Dunkirk, NY

Census place 3621105 · pop 12,549

D−46/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in NY
📍 New York ranks #48 of 50 states →
🏆 Cost$94,700 · top 2%
🚽 Prop tax2.48% · bottom 4%
Taxes
2.48% property · US 0.99%8.54% sales · US 7.00%up to 10.90% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden2.48%4

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.48% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Poverty rate24.3%9

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

24.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Bachelor's degree or higher16.4%13

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

16.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Physical inactivity33.3%14

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

33.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Median household income$53,29917

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$53,299 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult obesity40.1%19

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

40.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Adult smoking16.3%24

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

16.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.2%30

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults12.3%30

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

12.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Homeownership58.5%34

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

58.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health17.5%44

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

17.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Broadband access92.1%54

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Income inequality0.4358

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+5.8%67

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+5.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Natural disaster riskCounty-level64/10080

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

64/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time19 min81

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Air quality (AQI)County-level36 AQI86

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

36 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$94,70098

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$94,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Not measured for Dunkirk: Crime, Property crime, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Dunkirk, NY a good place to live?
By the numbers, Dunkirk scores 46/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is property-tax burden. New York overall ranks #48 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Dunkirk, NY expensive to live in?
Dunkirk has a median home value of $94,700 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Dunkirk, NY?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.48%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Dunkirk, NY best at?
Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($94,700) — 98/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.