The Town FilesJamestown, New York
City in Chautauqua County · population 28,712 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,700
- Household income
- $43,523
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 98 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 39.8
Jamestown is a city of 28,712 people in Chautauqua County, New York. The median home is worth $87,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 98% of New York towns, more walkable than 93% of New York towns, better for cycling than 88% of New York towns.
How Jamestown 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 Jamestown is worth $87,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $43,523, which is more affordable than 84% of New York towns. Median rent is $759 a month. 49.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jamestown | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $759 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $43,523 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 49.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Jamestown
| People | Jamestown | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 15.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 91.1% |
Weather in Jamestown
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 98.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 2.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 1990.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 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 Jamestown itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Jamestown
12 public schools with 5,748 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,354 | 13.5 |
| SOUTHWESTERN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 582 | 11.6 |
| MILTON J FLETCHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 509 | 11.3 |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 467 | 9.0 |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 451 | 10.3 |
| SOUTHWESTERN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 403 | 10.3 |
| ABRAHAM LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 401 | 11.5 |
| CARLYLE C RING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 390 | 10.0 |
| PERSELL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 362 | 8.0 |
| SAMUEL G LOVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 286 | 8.9 |
| SOUTHWESTERN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 281 | 10.8 |
| CLINTON V BUSH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 262 | 9.4 |
Towns near Jamestown
- Jamestown West, NY2.4 mi · 2,652 people · home $146,000
- Ellicott, NY2.4 mi · 8,768 people · home $120,700
- Lakewood, NY4.3 mi · 3,002 people · home $158,500
- Busti, NY5.6 mi · 7,543 people · home $164,600
- Carroll, NY8.1 mi · 3,456 people · home $143,900
- Ellery, NY8.8 mi · 4,122 people · home $235,900
- Pine Grove, PA12.2 mi · 2,604 people · home $188,900
- Conewango, PA14.5 mi · 3,427 people · home $122,000
Jamestown questions
Is Jamestown, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jamestown scores better for retirees than 3% of New York towns and quieter than 7%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Jamestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Jamestown is valued at $87,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,523, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $759 a month.
What is the weather like in Jamestown?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 98.4 inches of snow.
Does Jamestown get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)