The Town FilesWheeler, New York
Town in Steuben County · population 1,136 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,400
- Household income
- $59,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 33.3
Wheeler is a town of 1,136 people in Steuben County, New York. The median home is worth $119,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 84% of New York towns, better for families than 73% of New York towns.
How Wheeler 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 Wheeler is worth $119,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $59,688, which is more affordable than 84% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,341 a month. 84.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wheeler | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,400 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,341 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $59,688 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.6% | — |
Who lives in Wheeler
| People | Wheeler | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 40.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 21.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 67.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Wheeler
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 12.4°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Wheeler since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F0, struck on September 3, 1993 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 3, 1993.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 5, 2025.
Severe weather in Steuben County since 1996
Steuben County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Steuben County
Steuben County had 34,564 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,111 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Wheeler itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Wheeler
- Avoca, NY4.6 mi · 809 people · home $84,200
- Avoca, NY5.7 mi · 1,990 people · home $104,700
- Urbana, NY6.0 mi · 2,122 people · home $224,800
- Hammondsport, NY6.2 mi · 583 people · home $211,900
- Prattsburgh, NY6.6 mi · 589 people · home $105,400
- Prattsburgh, NY6.9 mi · 1,983 people · home $116,800
- Bath, NY7.1 mi · 5,571 people · home $101,700
- Bath, NY8.0 mi · 11,424 people · home $106,400
Wheeler questions
Is Wheeler, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wheeler scores better for retirees than 18% of New York towns and quieter than 69%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in Wheeler?
The median owner-occupied home in Wheeler is valued at $119,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,688, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,341 a month.
What is the weather like in Wheeler?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 12.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 56.1 inches of snow.
Does Wheeler get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Wheeler since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on September 3, 1993. 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)