The Town FilesWales, New York
Town in Erie County · population 3,009 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,800
- Household income
- $88,590
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 109 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.9
Wales is a town of 3,009 people in Erie County, New York. The median home is worth $244,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 91% of New York towns, easier by car than 91% of New York towns, quieter than 75% of New York towns.
How Wales 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 Wales is worth $244,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $88,590, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 88.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wales | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $950 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $88,590 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wales
| People | Wales | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Wales
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 44.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 109.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wales since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 2, 1972 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 12, 1959.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 26, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3590: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 466,138 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,971 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Wales itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near Wales
- Holland, NY4.8 mi · 3,281 people · home $265,000
- East Aurora, NY5.4 mi · 5,998 people · home $364,100
- Marilla, NY5.9 mi · 5,189 people · home $286,400
- Aurora, NY6.1 mi · 13,943 people · home $364,800
- Bennington, NY8.5 mi · 3,235 people · home $244,400
- Elma Center, NY8.5 mi · 2,851 people · home $423,000
- Elma, NY9.0 mi · 11,721 people · home $357,900
- Colden, NY9.1 mi · 3,121 people · home $302,600
Wales questions
Is Wales, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wales scores better for retirees than 61% of New York towns and quieter than 75%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Wales?
The median owner-occupied home in Wales is valued at $244,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,590, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Wales?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 109.3 inches of snow.
Does Wales get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wales since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 2, 1972. 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)