Chautauqua County, New York Demographics 2026
Chautauqua County, New York has a population of 125,544, the 23rd most populous county in New York. The median household income is $58,351 and the median home value is $127,900. The poverty rate is 17.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Chautauqua County Quick Facts
How Chautauqua County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 126,329 | 125,544 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $56,507 | $58,351 | +3.3% |
| Median home value | $119,300 | $127,900 | +7.2% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Chautauqua County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown | 28,188 | $43,523 | 25.3% | $87,700 |
| Dunkirk | 12,549 | $53,299 | 24.3% | $94,700 |
| Fredonia | 9,467 | $50,433 | 25.2% | $192,500 |
| Westfield | 3,185 | $46,774 | 15.3% | $102,600 |
| Lakewood | 2,957 | $67,557 | 11.6% | $158,500 |
| Silver Creek | 2,604 | $63,854 | 21.5% | $125,400 |
| Jamestown West | 2,424 | $54,250 | 9.5% | $146,000 |
| Falconer | 2,149 | $60,056 | 10.9% | $98,400 |
| Frewsburg | 1,792 | $75,536 | 8.4% | $142,800 |
| Brocton | 1,404 | $58,500 | 24.6% | $110,100 |
| Celoron | 1,397 | $51,964 | 16.6% | $92,700 |
| Mayville | 1,268 | $68,611 | 14.6% | $161,400 |
| Ripley | 920 | $52,614 | 6.5% | $112,000 |
| Forestville | 721 | N/A | 9.7% | $97,000 |
| Cassadaga | 608 | $73,750 | 6.1% | $121,900 |
| Sherman | 590 | $46,346 | 20.0% | $109,500 |
| Sinclairville | 557 | $48,214 | 15.8% | $107,300 |
| Panama | 451 | $60,865 | 12.9% | $105,400 |
| Sunset Bay | 384 | $66,731 | 13.4% | $245,000 |
| Cherry Creek | 327 | $68,516 | 9.8% | $81,800 |
| Chautauqua | 294 | N/A | 33.8% | $740,100 |
| Busti | 282 | N/A | 28.9% | $324,600 |
| Kennedy | 246 | $49,375 | 19.5% | $67,800 |
| Bemus Point | 191 | $86,250 | 11.0% | $386,400 |
Explore New York Rankings
Population Overview
Chautauqua County is located in New York with a total population of 125,544. It is the 23rd most populous county out of 62 in New York. The county encompasses 24 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Chautauqua County is 42.9 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Chautauqua County is $58,351. This is 32% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.4%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $127,900. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Chautauqua County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 54.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Chautauqua County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.7% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (9.6%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.
Education
25.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Chautauqua County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New York and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Chautauqua County, New York?
Chautauqua County has a population of 125,544, making it the 23rd most populous county in New York.
What is the median income in Chautauqua County?
The median household income in Chautauqua County is $58,351 with a poverty rate of 17.4%.
How many cities are in Chautauqua County, New York?
Chautauqua County contains 24 Census-designated places.