Population 72,048 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Tonawanda: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Tonawanda
Household size in Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.41 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.39 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.33 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.15 | 2.33 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | −0.08 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Tonawanda is a place of small households, averaging 2.15 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.29, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 34 of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
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 Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8 | 40.4 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 41.2 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.3 | 41.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.8 | 42.0 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +1.6 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Tonawanda is 43.8 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.8, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the east.
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 Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 11.7% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 12.1% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 11.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 11.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Tonawanda (9.9%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 Tonawanda
Renters in Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 32.9% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.0% | 33.8% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 34.3% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 33.2% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +0.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Tonawanda own their homes; 27.0% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (40.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the east.
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 Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 10.6% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.3% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 10.0% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 8.4% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Tonawanda: 5.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 0.5 points from 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 Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1958 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1954 | 1960 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Tonawanda is a place of older homes: half were built before 1954, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
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 Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $703 | $728 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $766 | $783 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $852 | $873 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,101 | $1,126 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$398 | +$398 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Tonawanda pays $1,101 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $398 a month since 2006–10, up 57%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.4% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the east and lowest in the southwest.
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 Tonawanda
Bachelor's degrees in Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.1% | 27.6% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.4% | 29.6% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.9% | 32.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.3% | 35.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +8.0 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Tonawanda as nationally: 36.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
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 Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.2% | 88.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.5% | 89.8% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.9% | 91.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 91.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Tonawanda: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Tonawanda
| Period | Tonawanda | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 8.0% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 5.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Tonawanda runs below the national rate: 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Tonawanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonawanda | 2.15 | 43.8 | 9.9% | 27.0% | 5.7% | 1954 | $1,101 | 36.3% | 94.5% | 4.3% |
| Kenmore | 2.20 | 40.4 | 10.5% | 31.0% | 4.7% | 1944 | $1,174 | 48.3% | 95.9% | 4.8% |
| Eggertsville | 2.42 | 40.2 | 11.9% | 26.5% | 10.6% | 1950 | $1,042 | 51.3% | 92.2% | 4.1% |
| University at Buffalo | 2.26 | 19.2 | 9.5% | 34.2% | 7.2% | 1957 | $1,090 | 82.9% | 100.0% | 0.8% |
| Buffalo area | 2.33 | 42.0 | 11.5% | 33.2% | 8.4% | 1960 | $1,126 | 35.6% | 91.9% | 5.4% |
| North Tonawanda | 2.29 | 44.8 | 9.5% | 27.2% | 5.8% | 1967 | $1,074 | 31.4% | 93.7% | 5.5% |
| Grand Island | 2.47 | 46.7 | 6.8% | 18.9% | 1.8% | 1975 | $1,390 | 46.2% | 96.0% | 3.5% |
| Getzville | 2.54 | 45.8 | 6.3% | 25.9% | 6.1% | 1983 | $1,443 | 58.1% | 95.0% | 3.4% |
| Williamsville | 1.97 | 51.0 | 7.0% | 33.8% | 6.6% | 1953 | $1,339 | 58.4% | 95.3% | 2.5% |
| Sloan | 2.49 | 39.9 | 16.8% | 32.1% | 16.6% | 1947 | $1,172 | 18.0% | 90.5% | 1.9% |
| Cheektowaga | 2.20 | 41.6 | 9.8% | 29.1% | 6.0% | 1960 | $1,017 | 30.4% | 92.8% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Aiken, SC · Allen, TX · Aurora, CO · Augusta, GA · Albany, NY · Avondale, AZ · Ashburn, VA · Beaverton, OR · Batchtown, IL · Batavia, IA
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 Tonawanda. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.