RANK #163 / 1001 NAT · #14 / 45 NY · POP 125,544
1YR FORECAST: +2.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +34%
Chautauqua County, located in the southwestern corner of New York, is perhaps best known for the Chautauqua Institution, a historic lakeside community offering a nine-week summer season of arts, education, religion, and recreation. The county borders Pennsylvania and is a drive of about 75 minutes from Buffalo, New York. Commuting within the county is primarily by personal vehicle, with Interstate 86 providing east-west access and State Route 60 running north-south. Public bus services, known as CHQ Transit, operate fixed routes in larger towns like Jamestown and Dunkirk, and offer rural and on-demand services. The landscape features rolling hills, forests, and several lakes, including Chautauqua Lake and a significant portion of Lake Erie shoreline, providing ample outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, boating, fishing, and winter sports.
Life in Chautauqua County offers a mix of small-town living and access to natural amenities. The county has 16 public school districts, including Jamestown City School District and Fredonia Central School District. While many residents experience financial stability, a portion of the population faces economic challenges, with incomes generally below state and national averages. The economy has a manufacturing base, with contributions from retail, service, and tourism sectors. Agriculture, particularly grape farming and associated food processing, is also a significant industry. Recent economic developments include investments in housing and infrastructure, as well as support for local businesses and tourism initiatives. There has also been investment in modernizing manufacturing facilities, particularly in advanced manufacturing for industrial components used in sectors like energy.
Chautauqua County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.1% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 6.4x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Lighthouse Energy Storage (Dunkirk)
GCI Lighthouse Energy Storage, LLC
|
$500M | Planned |
|
South Ripley Solar Project with Battery Storage
ConnectGen Chautauqua County LLC
|
$270M | Under Construction |
|
Cassadaga Wind Farm
RWE Clean Energy
|
$200M | Operating |
|
Empire Solar Project (Westfield)
AES Corporation
|
$125M | Planned |
|
Ball Hill Wind Farm
Northland Power Inc.
|
$108M | Operating |
|
York Run Solar
Undisclosed
|
$90M | Approved |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Chautauqua County ranks #163 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 84/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.7% year-over-year). Median household income here is $58,351.
By national standards, Chautauqua County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $127,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.46 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $812/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Chautauqua County is losing population (-0.6% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-0.7% employment change). Home values are +4.1% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.25% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Chautauqua County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.