The Town FilesRipley, New York
Community in Chautauqua County · population 852 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,000
- Household income
- $52,614
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 204 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 37.0
Ripley is a community of 852 people in Chautauqua County, New York. The median home is worth $112,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 85% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of New York towns, quieter than 74% of New York towns.
How Ripley 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 Ripley is worth $112,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $52,614, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $642 a month. 73.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ripley | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $642 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $52,614 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Ripley
| People | Ripley | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 15.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Ripley
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 203.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ripley since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 14, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 14, 2019.
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 Ripley itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Towns near Ripley
- Ripley, NY2.2 mi · 2,323 people · home $116,400
- Westfield, NY5.8 mi · 4,553 people · home $114,400
- North East, PA7.2 mi · 4,106 people · home $167,000
- North East, PA7.4 mi · 6,529 people · home $211,300
- Westfield, NY8.0 mi · 2,910 people · home $102,600
- Sherman, NY9.5 mi · 649 people · home $109,500
- Mina, NY9.8 mi · 1,007 people · home $194,400
- Chautauqua, NY10.7 mi · 4,009 people · home $189,300
Ripley questions
Is Ripley, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ripley scores better for retirees than 35% of New York towns and quieter than 74%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Ripley?
The median owner-occupied home in Ripley is valued at $112,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,614, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $642 a month.
What is the weather like in Ripley?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 203.9 inches of snow.
Does Ripley get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ripley 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)