The Town FilesNichols, New York
Town in Tioga County · population 2,347 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,200
- Household income
- $81,591
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 38.7
Nichols is a town of 2,347 people in Tioga County, New York. The median home is worth $145,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 83% of New York towns, better for cycling than 75% of New York towns, easier by car than 75% of New York towns.
How Nichols 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 Nichols is worth $145,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $81,591, which is more affordable than 91% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,263 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nichols | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,263 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $81,591 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Nichols
| People | Nichols | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Nichols
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 36.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nichols since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 6, 2012.
Severe weather in Tioga County since 1996
Tioga County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Tioga County
Tioga County had 13,093 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,197 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Nichols itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Nichols
3 public schools with 900 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIOGA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 344 | 12.7 |
| TIOGA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 283 | 12.3 |
| TIOGA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 273 | 10.9 |
Towns near Nichols
- Tioga, NY5.1 mi · 4,440 people · home $125,300
- Windham, PA5.4 mi · 818 people · home $151,900
- Owego, NY6.6 mi · 3,654 people · home $147,300
- Litchfield, PA6.9 mi · 1,273 people · home $260,600
- Barton, NY8.2 mi · 8,609 people · home $141,000
- Owego, NY8.6 mi · 18,777 people · home $187,800
- Sayre, PA9.5 mi · 5,461 people · home $169,500
- Warren, PA10.0 mi · 1,018 people · home $236,900
Nichols questions
Is Nichols, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nichols scores better for retirees than 66% of New York towns and quieter than 83%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Nichols?
The median owner-occupied home in Nichols is valued at $145,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,591, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $1,263 a month.
What is the weather like in Nichols?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49.1 inches of snow.
Does Nichols get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nichols since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. 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)