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Living in
North Tonawanda.
About
Life in North Tonawanda
If you're considering North Tonawanda, you're looking at a mid-sized city with real character and affordable housing compared to many Northeast markets. Homes median around $197,000 and rent runs about $934 a month, which is reasonable for the region. The job market is fairly stable with unemployment at 4.0%, and your average commute would be around 20 minutes.
North Tonawanda at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
91.1%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Ukraine
Who lives in North Tonawanda: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Tonawanda, the largest foreign-born group is from Ukraine (20.3%), and 1.8% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
17.9%
of residents
65 and Older
21.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.7%
of households
Married Couples
41.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.14
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 42% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in North Tonawanda
In North Tonawanda, rent runs 42% below the NY average, and home values are 53% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,636
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $285,376 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in North Tonawanda and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in North Tonawanda is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What North Tonawanda 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
Commute20.4 min avg
How North Tonawanda residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Tonawanda, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG)
Regional airport · few flights68k passengers boarded in 2025
- 10 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 53% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in North Tonawanda runs 53% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
154
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,071.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
North Tonawanda Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Niagara County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Niagara County, which includes North Tonawanda, the most common type is high wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | High Wind | $5,500 |
| 2024 | 8 | High Wind | $41,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,500 |
| 2022 | 9 | Winter Storm | $102,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | High Wind | $430,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Frost/Freeze | $52,000 |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.9M |
| 2018 | 8 | High Wind | $147,000 |
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
Niagara County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Niagara County, which includes North Tonawanda, is typically good — 328 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
328
per year
Moderate Days
24
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Niagara County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Tonawanda has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.1"
Annual Snowfall
79.8"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
171
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 17°F | 3.19" |
| Feb | 36°F | 17°F | 2.44" |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 2.94" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 3.64" |
| May | 70°F | 45°F | 3.38" |
| Jun | 79°F | 55°F | 3.30" |
| Jul | 83°F | 59°F | 3.46" |
| Aug | 82°F | 58°F | 3.10" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 3.90" |
| Oct | 61°F | 40°F | 3.94" |
| Nov | 49°F | 31°F | 3.46" |
| Dec | 38°F | 23°F | 3.39" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Tonawanda
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Tonawanda's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Kenmore Mercy Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Kenmore
Upstate New York VA Healthcare System (western Ny VA Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Buffalo
Sisters of Charity Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 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.
Education10.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Tonawanda
North Tonawanda's student/teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near North Tonawanda (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
11 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, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Tonawanda
North Tonawanda has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Tonawanda
North Tonawanda Public Library
505 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda
Cities Near North Tonawanda
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Tonawanda?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Tonawanda FAQ
Is North Tonawanda, New York affordable?⌄
North Tonawanda's median rent is $934/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,961/year. Median home value is $197,200.
Is North Tonawanda, New York safe?⌄
North Tonawanda's violent crime rate was 154 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1071 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Tonawanda, New York?⌄
North Tonawanda has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Tonawanda, New York?⌄
The cost of living in North Tonawanda is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $934/month and median household income is $66,961/year. The median home value is $197,200. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Tonawanda, New York?⌄
The average commute in North Tonawanda 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