What are the schools like in Dunkirk, NY?

Dunkirk is served primarily by DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 4 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.3:1.

What is the median household income in Dunkirk?

The median household income in Dunkirk, NY is $46,800 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in Dunkirk, NY?

Dunkirk has an average high temperature of 32.7°F in January and 80.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 75.6 inches.

Dunkirk, NY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dunkirk, NY affordable or expensive?

Dunkirk's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dunkirk is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $84,900 and the median rent is $826 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dunkirk, NY?

Dunkirk has a violent crime rate of 275.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1919.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dunkirk, NY a Good Place to Live?

Dunkirk is a small city of 12,668 in New York, with a median household income of $46,800 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Dunkirk stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dunkirk is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dunkirk city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.7

Dunkirk's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dunkirk costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dunkirk, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$84,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$826	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,800	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Dunkirk's violent crime rate is 275.3 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

275.3 /100k

Property Crime

1919.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Dunkirk is served primarily by DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dunkirk, NY	National Avg
School District	DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dunkirk sees average highs of 32.7°F in January and 80.4°F in July, with 46.8 inches of annual precipitation and 75.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dunkirk, NY
Average High — January	32.7°F
Average High — July	80.4°F
Annual Precipitation	46.8"
Annual Snowfall	75.6"

Demographics

Metric	Dunkirk, NY	National Avg
Population	12,668	—
Median Age	42.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	17.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	18.1%	22.2%
65 and over	17.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fredonia, NY 3 mi Forestville, NY 8 mi Brocton, NY 8 mi Silver Creek, NY 9 mi Cassadaga, NY 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Dunkirk

Dunkirk, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

14048

Dunkirk vs Other Cities

Dunkirk, NY vs Fredonia, NY Dunkirk, NY vs Forestville, NY Dunkirk, NY vs Brocton, NY Dunkirk, NY vs Silver Creek, NY Dunkirk, NY vs Cassadaga, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dunkirk, NY affordable or expensive?

Dunkirk's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dunkirk roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $84,900 and median rent is $826/month.

What is the crime rate in Dunkirk, NY?

Dunkirk's violent crime rate is 275.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1919.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dunkirk?

Public schools in Dunkirk are operated by DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 4 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.3:1. 16.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dunkirk, NY a good place to live?

Dunkirk, NY has a population of 12,668, a median household income of $46,800, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dunkirk?

Dunkirk averages 32.7°F in January and 80.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.8 inches with about 75.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dunkirk?

Dunkirk, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 14048.

What is the population of Dunkirk?

The population of Dunkirk, New York is 12,668 with a median age of 42.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dunkirk?

Key numbers for living in Dunkirk: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $84,900, median household income $46,800, crime index 80 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dunkirk side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.