The Town FilesBarker, New York
Village in Niagara County · population 575 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 40.5
Barker is a village of 575 people in Niagara County, New York. The median home is worth $175,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 87% of New York towns, easier by car than 84% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of New York towns.
How Barker ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barker is worth $175,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Median rent is $385 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barker | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $385 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | — | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1940 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Barker
| People | Barker | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 20.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Barker
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Barker since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 29, 1986 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 29, 1986.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 31, 1985.
Severe weather in Niagara County since 1996
Niagara County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Niagara County
Niagara County had 68,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,707 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Barker itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Barker
2 public schools with 656 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRATT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 360 | 12.0 |
| BARKER JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 296 | 10.6 |
Towns near Barker
- Somerset, NY0.6 mi · 2,597 people · home $167,200
- Hartland, NY4.8 mi · 3,874 people · home $183,000
- Newfane, NY7.5 mi · 9,304 people · home $170,800
- Newfane, NY7.6 mi · 3,662 people · home $151,700
- Lyndonville, NY8.3 mi · 771 people · home $139,900
- Yates, NY8.3 mi · 2,567 people · home $141,000
- Olcott, NY8.4 mi · 1,072 people · home $200,000
- Middleport, NY9.0 mi · 1,729 people · home $115,400
Barker questions
Is Barker, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barker scores better for retirees than 19% of New York towns and quieter than 50%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Barker?
The median owner-occupied home in Barker is valued at $175,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is $385 a month.
What is the weather like in Barker?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 67.1 inches of snow.
Does Barker get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Barker since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 29, 1986. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)