Median Income
$46,869
household / year
Median Home Value
$117,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$809
gross / month
Cost of Living
94
national avg = 100

Is Lackawanna, NY a Good Place to Live?

Lackawanna is a small city of 19,762 in New York, with a median household income of $46,869 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Lackawanna 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: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lackawanna is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lackawanna 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: 94.4

Lackawanna's overall cost of living index is 94.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lackawanna costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric Lackawanna, NY National Avg
Median Home Value $117,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $809 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 55.5% 65.9%
Median Household Income $46,869 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Lackawanna's violent crime rate is 395.2 per 100,000 residents — 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
395.2 /100k
Property Crime
1560.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lackawanna is served primarily by LACKAWANNA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Lackawanna, NY National Avg
School District LACKAWANNA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT —
Elementary Schools 2 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 10.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 86.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lackawanna sees average highs of 32.1°F in January and 80.2°F in July, with 41.5 inches of annual precipitation and 95.4 inches of snow per year.

MetricLackawanna, NY
Average High — January32.1°F
Average High — July80.2°F
Annual Precipitation41.5"
Annual Snowfall95.4"

Demographics

MetricLackawanna, NYNational Avg
Population19,762—
Median Age39.138.9
Unemployment Rate5.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time21.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)74.8%59.3%
Black or African American15.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino5.7%18.9%
Asian0.5%6.3%
Under 1820.8%22.2%
65 and over16.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Blasdell, NY 2 mi West Seneca, NY 4 mi Buffalo, NY 5 mi Sloan, NY 6 mi Orchard Park, NY 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Lackawanna

Lackawanna, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

14218

Lackawanna vs Other Cities

Lackawanna, NY vs Blasdell, NY Lackawanna, NY vs West Seneca, NY Lackawanna, NY vs Buffalo, NY Lackawanna, NY vs Sloan, NY Lackawanna, NY vs Orchard Park, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Lackawanna's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lackawanna roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $117,700 and median rent is $809/month.
Lackawanna's violent crime rate is 395.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1560.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lackawanna are operated by LACKAWANNA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1. 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lackawanna, NY has a population of 19,762, a median household income of $46,869, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. 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.
Lackawanna averages 32.1°F in January and 80.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.5 inches with about 95.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lackawanna, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 14218.
The population of Lackawanna, New York is 19,762 with a median age of 39.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lackawanna: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $117,700, median household income $46,869, crime index 92 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lackawanna side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.