Population 14,987 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dunkirk
Household size in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.21 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.21 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Dunkirk are small: just 2.28 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.21, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.1 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.1 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Dunkirk skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 39.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in five households in Dunkirk (18.6%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Dunkirk
Renters in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.9% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.9% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly four in ten households in Dunkirk rent their homes (37.6%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in New York overall (45.7%). Among homeowners, 53.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Dunkirk: 11.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1942 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1943 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1946 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1946 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Dunkirk is a place of older homes: half were built before 1946, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the west. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 17 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $643 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $611 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $717 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $809 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$166 | +$698 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Dunkirk costs $809 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $166 a month from 2006–10, a 26% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Dunkirk
Bachelor's degrees in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.1% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.6% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Dunkirk have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.0%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.5% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.1% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.4% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.4 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Dunkirk is close to the national rate: 87.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 8.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Dunkirk has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five New York cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Dunkirk
| Period | Dunkirk | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Dunkirk is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in New York as a whole (6.6%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Dunkirk compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkirk | 2.28 | 45.1 | 18.6% | 37.6% | 11.9% | 1946 | $809 | 18.0% | 87.9% | 5.0% |
| Fredonia | 2.04 | 40.4 | 7.7% | 39.5% | 15.4% | 1960 | $898 | 47.4% | 95.3% | 4.4% |
| Laona | 2.11 | 47.3 | 13.5% | 20.5% | 11.0% | 1967 | $892 | 20.8% | 91.6% | 5.4% |
| Van Buren Bay | 2.53 | 53.4 | 2.6% | 3.7% | 21.1% | 1954 | $850 | 34.9% | 91.2% | 0.5% |
| Sheridan | 2.27 | 47.1 | 4.9% | 7.1% | 8.0% | 1962 | $863 | 22.0% | 91.5% | 1.2% |
| Lamberton | 2.38 | 55.4 | 3.7% | 4.4% | 20.6% | 1954 | $844 | 33.0% | 93.1% | 1.6% |
| Shumla | 2.03 | 51.9 | 7.1% | 12.8% | 17.8% | 1972 | $975 | 25.9% | 91.9% | 1.8% |
| Forestville | 2.28 | 45.1 | 12.9% | 16.8% | 11.6% | 1957 | $898 | 15.4% | 91.9% | 4.8% |
| Brocton | 2.64 | 37.8 | 11.4% | 24.1% | 22.6% | 1949 | $730 | 25.0% | 79.3% | 8.4% |
| Lily Dale | 2.02 | 53.4 | 8.1% | 13.7% | 11.9% | 1962 | $794 | 26.7% | 96.0% | 1.4% |
| Silver Creek | 2.33 | 47.6 | 9.2% | 19.6% | 18.1% | 1947 | $926 | 26.1% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hillcrest Heights, MD · Saraland, AL · Sanger, TX · La Grange Park, IL · Keystone Heights, FL · Hubbard, OH · Hopatcong, NJ · Hollidaysburg, PA · Holden, MA · Sarasota Springs, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Dunkirk. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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