The Town FilesOntario, New York
Community in Wayne County · population 2,215 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,000
- Household income
- $50,078
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 38.8
Ontario is a community of 2,215 people in Wayne County, New York. The median home is worth $169,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 92% of New York towns, more of a college town than 79% of New York towns, hipper than 72% of New York towns.
How Ontario 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 Ontario is worth $169,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $50,078, which is more affordable than 36% of New York towns. Median rent is $693 a month. 50.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ontario | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $693 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $50,078 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ontario
| People | Ontario | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Ontario
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 17.4°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ontario since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 11, 2003 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 11, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 10, 1974.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 30, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3262: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 28,230 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,984 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Ontario itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Ontario
4 public schools with 2,012 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAYNE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 671 | 10.7 |
| WAYNE CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 614 | 10.4 |
| WAYNE CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 439 | 14.2 |
| WAYNE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-4 | 288 | 13.7 |
Towns near Ontario
- Ontario, NY2.6 mi · 10,446 people · home $233,900
- Walworth, NY4.6 mi · 9,253 people · home $232,000
- Williamson, NY4.8 mi · 6,860 people · home $192,700
- Williamson, NY4.9 mi · 2,418 people · home $149,400
- Walworth, NY5.4 mi · 917 people · home $195,800
- Marion, NY5.8 mi · 4,566 people · home $180,300
- Pultneyville, NY6.7 mi · 817 people · home $233,600
- Marion, NY6.8 mi · 1,432 people · home $158,800
Ontario questions
Is Ontario, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ontario scores better for retirees than 29% of New York towns and quieter than 19%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Ontario?
The median owner-occupied home in Ontario is valued at $169,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,078, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $693 a month.
What is the weather like in Ontario?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 17.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 85.9 inches of snow.
Does Ontario get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ontario since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 11, 2003. 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)