The Town FilesCollins, New York
Town in Erie County · population 5,894 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,000
- Household income
- $60,905
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 208 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 40.5
Collins is a town of 5,894 people in Erie County, New York. The median home is worth $153,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 85% of New York towns, more walkable than 74% of New York towns.
How Collins 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 Collins is worth $153,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $60,905, which is more affordable than 63% of New York towns. Median rent is $799 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Collins | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $799 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $60,905 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Collins
| People | Collins | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Collins
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 53.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 208.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Collins since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 10, 2024 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 18, 2017.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 26, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3590: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 466,138 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,971 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Collins itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Towns near Collins
- Gowanda, NY4.0 mi · 2,513 people · home $96,400
- North Collins, NY5.7 mi · 3,504 people · home $222,500
- Concord, NY9.2 mi · 8,316 people · home $219,300
- Springville, NY10.2 mi · 4,225 people · home $195,300
- Eden, NY11.2 mi · 3,346 people · home $237,200
- Eden, NY11.3 mi · 7,573 people · home $263,100
- Boston, NY12.5 mi · 7,948 people · home $266,900
- Hanover, NY12.5 mi · 6,972 people · home $141,500
Collins questions
Is Collins, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Collins scores better for retirees than 8% of New York towns and quieter than 48%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Collins?
The median owner-occupied home in Collins is valued at $153,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,905, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $799 a month.
What is the weather like in Collins?
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.7 inches of precipitation a year and 208.3 inches of snow.
Does Collins get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Collins since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 10, 2024. 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)