The Town FilesBurns, New York
Town in Allegany County · population 1,036 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,800
- Household income
- $64,491
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.9
Burns is a town of 1,036 people in Allegany County, New York. The median home is worth $100,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 94% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of New York towns, quieter than 91% of New York towns.
How Burns 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 Burns is worth $100,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $64,491, which is more affordable than 96% of New York towns. Median rent is $942 a month. 87.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burns | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $942 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $64,491 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.6% | — |
Who lives in Burns
| People | Burns | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Burns
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 12.4°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Burns since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 30, 1996 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 30, 1996.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 30, 1998.
Severe weather in Allegany County since 1996
Allegany County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allegany County
Allegany County had 13,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,004 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Burns itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Towns near Burns
- Arkport, NY5.3 mi · 745 people · home $125,600
- Ossian, NY5.5 mi · 724 people · home $172,700
- Dansville, NY6.4 mi · 1,835 people · home $132,700
- Almond, NY6.6 mi · 1,512 people · home $151,300
- North Hornell, NY8.8 mi · 732 people · home $161,700
- Hornellsville, NY8.8 mi · 4,034 people · home $134,800
- Fremont, NY9.2 mi · 894 people · home $175,600
- Hornell, NY9.3 mi · 8,263 people · home $94,500
Burns questions
Is Burns, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burns scores better for retirees than 54% of New York towns and quieter than 91%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Burns?
The median owner-occupied home in Burns is valued at $100,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,491, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $942 a month.
What is the weather like in Burns?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 12.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 62.1 inches of snow.
Does Burns get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Burns since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 30, 1996. 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)