The Town FilesSouth Dayton, New York
Village in Cattaraugus County · population 541 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $67,300
- Household income
- $40,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 208 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 42.8
South Dayton is a village of 541 people in Cattaraugus County, New York. The median home is worth $67,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 79% of New York towns, better for cycling than 78% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of New York towns.
How South Dayton 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 South Dayton is worth $67,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $40,000, which is more affordable than 94% of New York towns. Median rent is $794 a month. 73.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Dayton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $67,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $794 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $40,000 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in South Dayton
| People | South Dayton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in South Dayton
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 53.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 208.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Dayton 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 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Cattaraugus County since 1996
Cattaraugus County has been included in 26 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 22, 2014 | Snowstorm | DR-4204: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County had 27,671 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,047 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in South Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in South Dayton
2 public schools with 526 students, about 9.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PINE VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 322 | 11.1 |
| PINE VALLEY CENTRAL JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 204 | 7.0 |
Towns near South Dayton
- Dayton, NY3.0 mi · 1,690 people · home $111,700
- Villenova, NY4.0 mi · 1,057 people · home $129,300
- Leon, NY5.0 mi · 1,244 people · home $103,000
- Cherry Creek, NY5.6 mi · 1,037 people · home $122,700
- Persia, NY7.9 mi · 2,207 people · home $100,000
- Perrysburg, NY8.4 mi · 1,518 people · home $143,800
- Gowanda, NY9.0 mi · 2,513 people · home $96,400
- New Albion, NY9.1 mi · 1,981 people · home $88,600
South Dayton questions
Is South Dayton, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Dayton scores better for retirees than 6% of New York towns and quieter than 50%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in South Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in South Dayton is valued at $67,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,000, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $794 a month.
What is the weather like in South Dayton?
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.7 inches of precipitation a year and 208.3 inches of snow.
Does South Dayton get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Dayton 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)