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Living in
Lackawanna.
About
Life in Lackawanna
You'll find a genuinely affordable housing market with a median home value around $140,700 and median rent about $870, which matters if you're coming from anywhere on the coasts or even many Rust Belt cities that have already gentrified. The job market is solid with unemployment under 4%, and most commutes to jobs in Buffalo hover around 20 minutes, so you're not trading your entire life for a commute. Lackawanna has real neighborhood character shaped by its working-class roots—the city developed around the once-massive Lackawanna Steel Company, and you'll notice that heritage in the built environment and community values, though the waterfront is now mostly reclaimed from industrial use.
Lackawanna at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.2%
Foreign-Born
8.6%
Broadband Internet
85.2%
of households
Population Growth
-2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.6% foreign-born, most often from Yemen
Who lives in Lackawanna: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lackawanna, the largest foreign-born group is from Yemen (48.9%), and 13.2% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
24.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.6%
of households
Married Couples
29.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.33
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 46% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Lackawanna
In Lackawanna, rent runs 46% below the NY average, and home values are 67% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,745
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.1%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Lackawanna and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Erie County, which includes Lackawanna, is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Lackawanna: Erie County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Erie County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lackawanna is about 2% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lackawanna 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 min avg
How Lackawanna residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lackawanna, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 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 19% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lackawanna runs 19% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
265.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,887.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna, 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
Lackawanna is about 2% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Erie County, which includes Lackawanna, 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
Lackawanna is about 2% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lackawanna 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
41.5"
Annual Snowfall
95.4"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
168
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 Lackawanna
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lackawanna's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Buffalo
Western Ny Childrens Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 5 mi away · West Seneca
Kaleida Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 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.
Education10.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lackawanna
Lackawanna's student/teacher ratio is 10.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lackawanna (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
5.1 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 Lackawanna
Lackawanna has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, 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 awayPublic Libraries in Lackawanna
Lackawanna Public Library
560 Ridge Road, Lackawanna
Cities Near Lackawanna
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lackawanna?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lackawanna FAQ
Is Lackawanna, New York affordable?⌄
Lackawanna's median rent is $872/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $52,110/year. Median home value is $140,700.
Is Lackawanna, New York safe?⌄
Lackawanna's violent crime rate was 266 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1887 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lackawanna, New York?⌄
Erie County, which includes Lackawanna, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lackawanna, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Lackawanna is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $872/month and median household income is $52,110/year. The median home value is $140,700. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lackawanna, New York?⌄
The average commute in Lackawanna is 20 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