The Town FilesFrench Creek, New York
Town in Chautauqua County · population 1,007 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,700
- Household income
- $85,577
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 168 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 29.7
French Creek is a town of 1,007 people in Chautauqua County, New York. The median home is worth $161,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 89% of New York towns, better for families than 88% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of New York towns.
How French Creek 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 French Creek is worth $161,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $85,577, which is more affordable than 88% of New York towns. Median rent is $753 a month. 82.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | French Creek | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $753 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $85,577 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 39.4% | — |
Who lives in French Creek
| People | French Creek | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 37.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 1.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in French Creek
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 168.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of French Creek since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 5.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 20, 2023.
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 French Creek itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Towns near French Creek
- Mina, NY5.8 mi · 1,007 people · home $194,400
- Venango, PA6.2 mi · 2,256 people · home $203,300
- Wayne, PA6.4 mi · 1,540 people · home $169,900
- Clymer, NY6.6 mi · 1,753 people · home $163,700
- Amity, PA7.9 mi · 985 people · home $206,300
- Greenfield, PA8.5 mi · 1,803 people · home $220,500
- Corry, PA8.8 mi · 6,210 people · home $96,800
- Columbus, PA9.2 mi · 678 people · home $110,900
French Creek questions
Is French Creek, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, French Creek scores better for retirees than 12% of New York towns and quieter than 57%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.7).
How much does a house cost in French Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in French Creek is valued at $161,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,577, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $753 a month.
What is the weather like in French Creek?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 168.3 inches of snow.
Does French Creek get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of French Creek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. 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)