Tonawanda receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Tonawanda
Lackawanna
Opportunity
48 · Bottom 33%
vs43 · Bottom 23%
Growth
43 · Bottom 37%
vs12 · Bottom 3%
Climate
61 · Bottom 17%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 25%
vs80 · Top 25%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs95 · Top 19%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
53 · Bottom 36%
vs32 · Bottom 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Tonawanda | Lackawanna | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,030 | 19,753 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $58,326 | $52,110 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,905 | $26,611 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,952/sq mi | 3,017/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $173,600 | $140,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $835 | $872 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.2% | 56.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 20.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 23.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 27 | 0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 0.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.0" | 40.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 21.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.5 | 37.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Tonawanda
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Lackawanna
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Tonawanda
69
Your Score
66
Area Score
Lackawanna
55
Your Score
54
Area Score
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Full profiles: Tonawanda, NY · Lackawanna, NY · How this is calculated: methodology