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Living in
Town of Tonawanda.
Town of Tonawanda 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 Town of Tonawanda
Tonawanda Town offers a fairly typical suburban experience for the Buffalo region—quieter than the city but still close enough for a reasonable commute averaging about 20 minutes. The housing market is relatively affordable compared to national standards, with median home prices under $200,000 and rents around $1,102 monthly, though you'll want to factor in the region's harsh winters and substantial snow. Job opportunities exist locally, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, though many residents commute into Buffalo or beyond for work.
Town of Tonawanda at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.0%
Foreign-Born
6.4%
Broadband Internet
92.8%
of households
Median household income
Demographics6.4% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Town of Tonawanda: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Town of Tonawanda, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (11.0%), and 1.8% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
17.4%
of residents
65 and Older
21.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.2%
of households
Married Couples
40.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.09
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 32% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Town of Tonawanda
In Town of Tonawanda, rent runs 32% below the NY average, and home values are 49% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,380
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Town of Tonawanda and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Erie County, which includes Town of Tonawanda, is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Town of Tonawanda: Erie County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Erie County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Town of 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
Commute21.3 min avg
How Town of Tonawanda residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Town of Tonawanda, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 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 57% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Town of Tonawanda runs 57% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
140.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,839.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Tonawanda 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 Town of Tonawanda, 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 Town of Tonawanda, 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
Climate81°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Town of 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
40.9"
Annual Snowfall
79.8"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
168
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Town of Tonawanda
Town of Tonawanda has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Kenmore Mercy Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Upstate New York VA Healthcare System (western Ny VA Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Buffalo
Buffalo Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · 4 mi away · Buffalo
Sisters of Charity Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 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 Town of Tonawanda
Town of Tonawanda's student/teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 39.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.4%
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 Town of 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
6.8 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 Town of Tonawanda
Town of Tonawanda 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 Town of Tonawanda
Kenilworth Branch Library
318 Montrose Avenue, Buffalo
Cities Near Town of Tonawanda
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Town of Tonawanda?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Town of Tonawanda FAQ
Is Town of Tonawanda, New York affordable?⌄
Town of Tonawanda's median rent is $1,102/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $77,679/year. Median home value is $215,200.
Is Town of Tonawanda, New York safe?⌄
Town of Tonawanda's violent crime rate was 140 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 1839 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Town of Tonawanda, New York?⌄
Erie County, which includes Town of 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 Town of Tonawanda, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Town of Tonawanda is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,102/month and median household income is $77,679/year. The median home value is $215,200. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Town of Tonawanda, New York?⌄
The average commute in Town of Tonawanda is 21 minutes, which is about 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