The Town FilesNorth Tonawanda, New York
City in Niagara County · population 30,496 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,200
- Household income
- $66,961
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 43.1
North Tonawanda is a city of 30,496 people in Niagara County, New York. The median home is worth $197,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 88% of New York towns, more vibrant than 84% of New York towns, more of a college town than 81% of New York towns.
How North Tonawanda 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 North Tonawanda is worth $197,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $66,961, which is more affordable than 49% of New York towns. Median rent is $934 a month. 70.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Tonawanda | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $934 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $66,961 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in North Tonawanda
| People | North Tonawanda | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in North Tonawanda
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 40.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Tonawanda since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 7, 1961 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 27, 1998.
Severe weather in Niagara County since 1996
Niagara County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 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 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Niagara County
Niagara County had 68,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,707 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in North Tonawanda itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in North Tonawanda
7 public schools with 3,632 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH TONAWANDA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 973 | 11.3 |
| NORTH TONAWANDA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 4-6 | 733 | 11.5 |
| ERRICK ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 495 | 12.1 |
| NORTH TONAWANDA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 478 | 9.6 |
| OHIO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 367 | 11.8 |
| SPRUCE SCHOOL | K-5 | 340 | 9.2 |
| DRAKE SCHOOL | K-5 | 246 | 11.2 |
Towns near North Tonawanda
- Tonawanda, NY2.6 mi · 15,129 people · home $173,600
- Wheatfield, NY3.2 mi · 18,638 people · home $314,900
- Tonawanda Town, NY4.4 mi · 57,431 people · home $215,200
- Tonawanda, NY4.6 mi · 72,636 people · home $213,900
- Grand Island, NY5.1 mi · 21,389 people · home $327,000
- University at Buffalo, NY5.5 mi · 6,798 people · home —
- Kenmore, NY5.8 mi · 15,205 people · home $208,600
- Grandyle Village, NY5.9 mi · 4,805 people · home $227,300
North Tonawanda questions
Is North Tonawanda, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Tonawanda scores better for retirees than 20% of New York towns and quieter than 18%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in North Tonawanda?
The median owner-occupied home in North Tonawanda is valued at $197,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,961, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $934 a month.
What is the weather like in North Tonawanda?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 79.8 inches of snow.
Does North Tonawanda get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Tonawanda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 7, 1961. 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)