Below Average CostVery SafeGOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
U.S. Post Office Gowanda NY Aug 10 · Pubdog (talk) / Public domainPartial North Side View of West Main Street, Gowanda, NY, 2007 · Daniellagreen / CC BY-SA 3.0Gowanda High School Marching Band at Springville Pageant of Bands, 1988 · Daniellagreen / CC BY-SA 3.0Partial View of Gowanda Correctional Facility with Power Plant in Background at Left, September 1996 · Daniellagreen / CC BY-SA 3.0
Gowanda is a small town of 3,211 in New York, with a median household income of $50,304
and a 5.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Gowanda stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gowanda is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Gowanda 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: 91.6
Gowanda's overall cost of living index is 91.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Gowanda costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Gowanda, NY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$85,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$715
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,304
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Gowanda's violent crime rate is 145.8 per 100,000 residents
— 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
145.8 /100k
Property Crime
1083.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Gowanda is served primarily by GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Gowanda, NY
National Avg
School District
GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Gowanda sees average highs of 31.0°F in January
and 78.7°F in July,
with 53.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 208.3 inches of snow per year.
Gowanda's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Gowanda roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $85,000 and median rent is $715/month.
Gowanda's violent crime rate is 145.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1083.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Gowanda are operated by GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1. 14.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Gowanda, NY has a population of 3,211, a median household income of $50,304, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
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.
Gowanda averages 31.0°F in January and 78.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.7 inches
with about 208.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Gowanda, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 14070.
The population of Gowanda, New York is 3,211 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Gowanda: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $85,000, median household income $50,304, crime index 44 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gowanda side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
