The Town FilesNiles, New York
Town in Cayuga County · population 1,137 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,100
- Household income
- $80,588
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 106 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 46.9
Niles is a town of 1,137 people in Cayuga County, New York. The median home is worth $197,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 89% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 83% of New York towns, quieter than 73% of New York towns.
How Niles 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 Niles is worth $197,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $80,588, which is more affordable than 67% of New York towns. 94.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Niles | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $80,588 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 41.6% | — |
Who lives in Niles
| People | Niles | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Niles
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 105.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Niles since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 18, 2004 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 18, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Cayuga County since 1996
Cayuga County has been included in 19 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 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Cayuga County
Cayuga County had 24,605 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,623 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Niles itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Niles
- Moravia, NY5.6 mi · 3,323 people · home $162,800
- Spafford, NY5.9 mi · 1,588 people · home $323,500
- Sempronius, NY6.6 mi · 840 people · home $154,200
- Owasco, NY6.9 mi · 3,552 people · home $282,100
- Skaneateles, NY7.0 mi · 7,112 people · home $457,800
- Moravia, NY7.3 mi · 1,224 people · home $131,300
- Melrose Park, NY8.3 mi · 2,141 people · home $224,400
- Scipio, NY8.7 mi · 1,531 people · home $192,200
Niles questions
Is Niles, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Niles scores better for retirees than 72% of New York towns and quieter than 73%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Niles?
The median owner-occupied home in Niles is valued at $197,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,588, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Niles?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 105.7 inches of snow.
Does Niles get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Niles since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 18, 2004. 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)