CensusEasy
CITY

Dunkirk

New York · 12,326 residents (2025 est.) · 4.545 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Jamestown micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Dunkirk has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,299. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $94,700. The poverty rate of 24.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 38% less than the New York median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,549
−4%since 2000
from 13,131 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,761 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 2,889 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.7
+17%since 2000
from 37.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,326 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K12K13K14K14K1990201020202024Dunkirk
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,299
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,313 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,787
+79%since 2000
from $15,482 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.5%
+19.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 22.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.425
−4%since 2010
from 0.441 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services1.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration0.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,700
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$866
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $468 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
58.5%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 61.1% in 2000
41.5% rent
Vacancy rate
10.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.4%
−12.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.5%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
−2%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
44
RELATED:See current rent listings in Dunkirk on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic73.9%(9,710)
Black4.5%(586)
Hispanic / Latino19.9%(2,608)
Asian0.2%(30)
Other0%
Diversity Score49.2%(6,462)
2024
White, non-Hispanic55.8%(7,002)
Black3.8%(476)
Hispanic / Latino36.5%(4,580)
Asian0.1%(12)
Other3.8%(479)
Diversity Score69.1%(8,668)
Diversity Score
69
+40%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.4%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.4%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 75.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.0 min
+51%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.5%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.1%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.5%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.2%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.2%
−8.7 ptssince 2011
from 62.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.1%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.2%
−26.0 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Foreign born
4.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−40.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.1%
+5.6 ptssince 2012
from 13.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.0%
−89.8 ptssince 2013
from 91.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.1%
+23.7 ptssince 2017
from 68.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
78.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2016
from 80.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
20.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2016
from 18.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Dunkirk

Mango
Pop 13,242
Holly Hill
Pop 13,268
Lake City
Pop 12,788
Hudson
Pop 11,254
Places similar to Dunkirk
Head to head

Compare Dunkirk to nearby cities

DUNKIRK VS
Fredonia
Income$50,433−5%
Home value$192,500+103%
Population9,283−25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DUNKIRK VS
Jamestown
Income$43,523−18%
Home value$87,700−7%
Population27,663+124%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DUNKIRK VS
Hamburg
Income$112,292+111%
Home value$248,600+163%
Population9,840−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DUNKIRK VS
Lackawanna
Income$52,110−2%
Home value$140,700+49%
Population19,452+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Dunkirk, New York?

Dunkirk, New York has about 12,549 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Dunkirk, New York?

The typical household in Dunkirk, New York earns about $53,299 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Dunkirk, New York expensive?

In Dunkirk, New York, the median home is worth about $94,700, and the typical rent is about $866 a month.

How educated are people in Dunkirk, New York?

About 16.4% of adults age 25 and over in Dunkirk, New York hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Dunkirk, New York?

About 24.3% of people in Dunkirk, New York live below the federal poverty line.

Has Dunkirk, New York grown since 1990?

Yes, Dunkirk, New York has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,440 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
New York
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Dunkirk with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →