Gowanda, New York Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Gowanda is a small community located in New York, within Erie County. The total population is 2,683. It ranks as the 530th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gowanda is 37.6 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 39.8 years. With 30.2% of the population under 18, Gowanda has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gowanda is $51,828. This is 40% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 21% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $96,400. Housing costs are 77% lower than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Gowanda is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% higher than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Gowanda has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.1% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 19.8%.

Education

10.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 73% 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 92.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gowanda, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.