The Town FilesDunkirk, New York
City in Chautauqua County · population 12,743 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,700
- Household income
- $53,299
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 43.7
Dunkirk is a city of 12,743 people in Chautauqua County, New York. The median home is worth $94,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of New York towns, more walkable than 91% of New York towns, hipper than 84% of New York towns.
How Dunkirk 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 Dunkirk is worth $94,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $53,299, which is more affordable than 91% of New York towns. Median rent is $866 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dunkirk | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $866 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $53,299 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Dunkirk
| People | Dunkirk | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Dunkirk
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.6 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dunkirk since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 14, 2011 about 2.6 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 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Chautauqua County since 1996
Chautauqua County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| December 22, 2014 | Snowstorm | DR-4204: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County had 46,319 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,960 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Dunkirk itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Dunkirk
5 public schools with 1,933 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 896 | 10.3 |
| DUNKIRK INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-6 | 592 | 9.0 |
| SCHOOL 7 | K-2 | 161 | 9.5 |
| SCHOOL 5 | K-2 | 147 | 11.3 |
| SCHOOL 3 | PK-2 | 137 | 12.5 |
Towns near Dunkirk
- Fredonia, NY2.8 mi · 9,585 people · home $192,500
- Pomfret, NY5.0 mi · 13,035 people · home $185,400
- Sheridan, NY5.5 mi · 2,564 people · home $192,900
- Silver Creek, NY9.3 mi · 2,617 people · home $125,400
- Portland, NY10.0 mi · 4,309 people · home $139,500
- Hanover, NY11.2 mi · 6,972 people · home $141,500
- Lake Erie Beach, NY16.3 mi · 3,467 people · home $162,500
- Westfield, NY16.5 mi · 2,910 people · home $102,600
Dunkirk questions
Is Dunkirk, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dunkirk scores better for retirees than 16% of New York towns and quieter than 15%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Dunkirk?
The median owner-occupied home in Dunkirk is valued at $94,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,299, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $866 a month.
What is the weather like in Dunkirk?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 75.6 inches of snow.
Does Dunkirk get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dunkirk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 14, 2011. 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)