What stands out worked out from the figures below

Niagara has the most homeowners (76.6%).

Niagara Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Niagara	Niagara Falls
People
Population	7,797Lowest	47,987Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.3±9Highest 6% above NY	40.8±1.3Lowest about the NY average
	Niagara and Niagara Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.2%±1.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Niagara Falls and Niagara are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%	18.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Niagara and Niagara Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2Lowest NY: 7%	4.7%±1Highest NY: 7%
	Niagara Falls and Niagara are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,645±$5kHighest 34% below NY	$49,101±$2kLowest 43% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$146,200±$23kHighest 66% below NY	$115,300±$6kLowest 73% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,077±$117Highest 34% below NY	$823±$33Lowest 49% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,388Highest 49% below NY	$2,786Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±13.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	58.4%±6.1Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	21.3%Lowest NY: 14%	23.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	58.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	19 minHighest 41% below NY
Work from home	5.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.4%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Niagara Falls and Niagara are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#427 of 484 in NY
School district	—	NIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	NIAGARA FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	15.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.