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Living in
Cheektowaga.
Cheektowaga is an unincorporated community in Erie County, NY. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Cheektowaga
Cheektowaga offers the practical appeal of suburban living close to Buffalo without big-city prices—median homes run about $186,000 and rent averages $1,055 monthly, which is genuinely affordable for the Northeast. The job market is solid with 4.0% unemployment and a 20-minute average commute, so you're not sacrificing career opportunities or spending hours in traffic. That said, winters here are serious business: the town sits directly in the lake-effect snow band that crosses western New York, and it has been pummeled by historic blizzards including the legendary Blizzard of '77.
Cheektowaga at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.7%
Foreign-Born
9.0%
Broadband Internet
88.0%
of households
Population Growth
+3.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.0% foreign-born, most often from Bangladesh
Who lives in Cheektowaga: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cheektowaga, the largest foreign-born group is from Bangladesh (18.2%), and 3.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.5%
of residents
65 and Older
20.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.4%
of households
Married Couples
37.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 35% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Cheektowaga
In Cheektowaga, rent runs 35% below the NY average, and home values are 56% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,513
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Cheektowaga and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Erie County, which includes Cheektowaga, is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Cheektowaga: Erie County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Erie County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Cheektowaga Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY metro area
Commute20.6 min avg
How Cheektowaga residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cheektowaga, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 33% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Cheektowaga runs 33% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
221.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,209.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Cheektowaga Town Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Erie County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Erie County, which includes Cheektowaga, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Lake-Effect Snow | $6,500 |
| 2024 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $46,300 |
| 2022 | 19 | Winter Storm | $45.7M |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.4M |
| 2020 | 42 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2019 | 29 | High Wind | $21.7M |
| 2018 | 22 | Winter Storm | $604,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Erie County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Erie County, which includes Cheektowaga, is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
121
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Erie County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cheektowaga has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.1"
Annual Snowfall
95.4"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
166
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 3.35" |
| Feb | 33°F | 20°F | 2.49" |
| Mar | 42°F | 26°F | 2.89" |
| Apr | 55°F | 37°F | 3.37" |
| May | 67°F | 48°F | 3.37" |
| Jun | 76°F | 58°F | 3.37" |
| Jul | 80°F | 63°F | 3.23" |
| Aug | 79°F | 62°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 72°F | 55°F | 4.10" |
| Oct | 60°F | 44°F | 4.03" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 3.50" |
| Dec | 37°F | 26°F | 3.75" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cheektowaga
Uninsured
2.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cheektowaga's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Erie County Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Buffalo
Upstate New York VA Healthcare System (western Ny VA Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Buffalo
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Buffalo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cheektowaga
Cheektowaga's student/teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Cheektowaga
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 603 students · in-state tuition $28,670 · 38% graduate · median earnings $38,993 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 6,099 students · in-state tuition $6,100 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,497 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,097 students · in-state tuition $8,533 · 47% graduate · median earnings $55,028 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,685 students · in-state tuition $35,880 · 68% graduate · median earnings $63,820 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,258 students · in-state tuition $35,980 · 70% graduate · median earnings $74,104 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 984 students · in-state tuition $21,480 · 60% graduate · median earnings $62,554 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo
5.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 743 students · in-state tuition $19,220 · 40% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cheektowaga
Cheektowaga has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayWomen's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cheektowaga
Julia Boyer Reinstein Library
1030 Losson Road, Cheektowaga
Anna M. Reinstein Memorial Library
2580 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga
Cities Near Cheektowaga
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cheektowaga?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cheektowaga FAQ
Is Cheektowaga, New York affordable?⌄
Cheektowaga's median rent is $1,055/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $68,613/year. Median home value is $185,500.
Is Cheektowaga, New York safe?⌄
Cheektowaga's violent crime rate was 221 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3210 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cheektowaga, New York?⌄
Erie County, which includes Cheektowaga, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cheektowaga, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Cheektowaga is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,055/month and median household income is $68,613/year. The median home value is $185,500. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cheektowaga, New York?⌄
The average commute in Cheektowaga is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from