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Living in
Dunkirk.
About
Life in Dunkirk
Dunkirk is a community of 12,597 people in New York. The median household income is $53,299, median rent runs about $866 per month, and median home values are around $94,700. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.
Dunkirk at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.3%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
-3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Venezuela
Who lives in Dunkirk: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dunkirk, the largest foreign-born group is from Venezuela (26.6%), and 20.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
19.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.3%
of households
Married Couples
32.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
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 47% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Dunkirk
In Dunkirk, rent runs 47% below the NY average, and home values are 78% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,352
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1941
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $133,809 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Dunkirk
Unemployment in Chautauqua County, which includes Dunkirk, is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Dunkirk: Chautauqua County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Chautauqua County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Dunkirk Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19 min avg
How Dunkirk residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dunkirk, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 44 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 23% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dunkirk runs 23% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
252.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,537.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dunkirk Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Chautauqua County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Chautauqua County, which includes Dunkirk, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Lake-Effect Snow | $17,500 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $187,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $119,500 |
| 2022 | 18 | Winter Storm | $74,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $747,000 |
| 2020 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $785,500 |
| 2019 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.7M |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | $186,500 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Chautauqua County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Chautauqua County, which includes Dunkirk, is typically good — 317 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
317
per year
Moderate Days
38
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Chautauqua County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dunkirk has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.8"
Annual Snowfall
75.6"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 17°F | 3.35" |
| Feb | 34°F | 17°F | 2.57" |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 3.01" |
| Apr | 54°F | 34°F | 3.83" |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.99" |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 4.18" |
| Jul | 80°F | 61°F | 4.64" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.88" |
| Sep | 73°F | 53°F | 4.37" |
| Oct | 61°F | 44°F | 4.78" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 4.06" |
| Dec | 38°F | 26°F | 4.15" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dunkirk
Dunkirk has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Brooks-tlc Hospital System, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education10.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dunkirk
Dunkirk's student/teacher ratio is 10.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, 37 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dunkirk
Dunkirk has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (37 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
National Historic Site
37 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dunkirk
Dunkirk Public Library
536 Central Avenue, Dunkirk
Cities Near Dunkirk
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dunkirk?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dunkirk FAQ
Is Dunkirk, New York affordable?⌄
Dunkirk's median rent is $866/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,299/year. Median home value is $94,700.
Is Dunkirk, New York safe?⌄
Dunkirk's violent crime rate was 252 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1538 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dunkirk, New York?⌄
Chautauqua County, which includes Dunkirk, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dunkirk, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Dunkirk is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $866/month and median household income is $53,299/year. The median home value is $94,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dunkirk, New York?⌄
The average commute in Dunkirk is 19 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