The Town FilesWestfield, New York
Town in Chautauqua County · population 4,553 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,400
- Household income
- $50,921
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 225 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 48.5
Westfield is a town of 4,553 people in Chautauqua County, New York. The median home is worth $114,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 92% of New York towns, better for retirees than 91% of New York towns, quieter than 72% of New York towns.
- #1 in The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New York With Mild Winters
- #3 in The 25 Snowiest Small Towns in New York
- #6 in The 50 Snowiest Small Towns in America
- #6 in The 50 Snowiest Places in America
- #10 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Cheapest Rent
- #11 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New York
How Westfield 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 Westfield is worth $114,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $50,921, which is more affordable than 76% of New York towns. Median rent is $670 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Westfield | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,400 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $670 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $50,921 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.5% | — |
Who lives in Westfield
| People | Westfield | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Westfield
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 224.5 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
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westfield 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 7.1 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 July 16, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 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 Westfield itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Towns near Westfield
- Westfield, NY3.9 mi · 2,910 people · home $102,600
- Chautauqua, NY5.1 mi · 4,009 people · home $189,300
- Portland, NY10.0 mi · 4,309 people · home $139,500
- North East, PA12.5 mi · 6,529 people · home $211,300
- North East, PA12.5 mi · 4,106 people · home $167,000
- Ellery, NY13.7 mi · 4,122 people · home $235,900
- Pomfret, NY16.8 mi · 13,035 people · home $185,400
- Fredonia, NY18.1 mi · 9,585 people · home $192,500
Westfield questions
Is Westfield, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Westfield scores better for retirees than 91% of New York towns and quieter than 72%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in Westfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Westfield is valued at $114,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,921, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $670 a month.
What is the weather like in Westfield?
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 224.5 inches of snow.
Does Westfield get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westfield 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)