Located in Chautauqua County, New York, Jamestown is a historic, mid-sized city between the beauty of the Allegheny National Forest, Lake Erie, and Chautauqua Lake. The city is about 50 miles west of Erie, PA and 70 miles southwest of Buffalo with the excitement of the big cities close at hand and a far lower cost of living so your money will go far. The Jamestown nickname is the Furniture Capital of the World, although it’s come a long way from its days of furniture expos. What is Jamestown known for? Comedy! It’s the birthplace of Lucille Ball and home to the Luci Desi Museum and the National Comedy Center, but it has much more to offer — especially if you love to be outdoors.
If you’re thinking about living in Jamestown, you have a lot to look forward to. Here are the top things to know before moving to Jamestown, NY, including the climate, job market, and the best things to do.
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Jamestown, NY Demographics & Population
The population of Jamestown, NY reached a peak of 45,000 in 1930 and has been steadily declining since to reach a population today of 30,000. This quiet city, which is the population center of Chautauqua County, has a median household income of $32,000 but affordable housing and nearby employment opportunities.
Wondering about who your neighbors will be while living in Jamestown? Like many cities in New York, Jamestown is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic melting pot with people from around the world. Historically, the city was comprised mostly of people of Swedish and Italian descent, a heritage that can be seen in the Italian Room and Swedish Room at the Fenton History Center, a historic home-turned-museum opened in 1863. Today, Jamestown is 82% white, 9% Hispanic, and 5% black with a median age of 37.
Cost of Living in Jamestown
Thinking about moving to Jamestown, NY? You’re probably asking yourself, can I afford to live in the city? What is the cost of living in Jamestown? The good news is Jamestown is one of the most affordable medium-sized cities in New York. While the city has a low median household income of just $32,000 compared to the national average of $63,000, the Jamestown cost of living is low enough to make up for this. The cost of living index in Jamestown is just 81 compared to 117 for New York as a whole. That’s 31% lower than the state average and almost 20% lower than the U.S. average.
While Jamestown is about average when it comes to the cost of groceries, services, utilities, and transportation, it really shines when it comes to housing costs which are far lower than the New York and U.S. average. Average home prices in Jamestown are just $64,000 — that makes living in Jamestown an affordable option if you plan to buy a home. You can start your search for Jamestown, NY homes for sale to see just what your budget can get you.
Thinking about renting after moving to Jamestown? Average rent in Jamestown is just $640 or $575 for a one-bedroom apartment, according to Rent Jungle. That compares to the national average of almost $1,500 and over $1,000 in Rochester, NY.
Best Neighborhoods in Jamestown, NY
Jamestown is just 9 square miles, but there are still plenty of great Jamestown neighborhoods to choose from. Deciding where to settle? Downtown Jamestown is a great choice if you like to be close to the action and plan on renting. Downtown is one of the best areas to live in Jamestown if you want to be near the Chadakoin River and the Jamestown River Walk.
One of the most prestigious and safest neighborhoods in Jamestown is the Hebner St/Camp St area past Allen Park. Homes in this community are often large single-family homes with plenty of land — the perfect place to live in Jamestown with kids. The Woodlawn Ave/E 2nd St in northeast Jamestown is a mid-range neighborhood with homes priced around $100,000 — a good compromise between the city’s most affordable neighborhoods and the high-cost areas.
The Jamestown zip codes are 14701 and 14702. The Jamestown area code is 716.
Best Places to Eat & Things to Do in Jamestown
Jamestown may not be a large city, but one of the benefits of living in Jamestown means there’s always something to do. Are you asking yourself, should I move to Jamestown? Here’s some of the fun things to do in Jamestown aside from exploring the great outdoors, fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping.
National Comedy Center
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Catch the biggest names in comedy at Jamestown’s own National Comedy Center. This is one of the best things to do in Jamestown for couples with major acts throughout the year plus the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival.
National Comedy Center 203 W 2nd St, Jamestown, NY 14701 (716) 484-2222
Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
As Lucy’s hometown, it’s no surprise that one of the top Jamestown attractions is a museum dedicated to the comedian and actress. Visit the museum’s collection of memorabilia, costumes, and personal items from the estates of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum 2 W 3rd St, Jamestown, NY 14701 (716) 484-0800
Landmark Restaurant
Enjoy fine dining at one of the best Jamestown restaurants with classics like the Landmark Cordon Bleu and Rack of Lamb or enjoy casual dining with friends at the Landmark bar and lounge.
Landmark Restaurant 516 W 4th St, Jamestown, NY 14701 (716) 720-5633
Labyrinth Press Company
Take in live music, craft beer, and tasty vegan dishes at Labyrinth Press Company, one of the best places in Jamestown to meet with friends.
Labyrinth Press Company 12 E 4th St, Jamestown, NY 14701 (716) 708-2471
Jamestown Jobs & Economy
Considering moving to Jamestown for a job or ready to explore career opportunities in your new home? Jamestown is the manufacturing, financial, and commercial center of Southwestern New York with plenty of job opportunities. There are several major manufacturing plants that create thousands of Jamestown jobs such as:
- Cummings Inc. (diesel engines)
- Bush Industries (ready-to-assemble furniture)
- Water Street Brass Corporation (decorative brass hardware)
- Jamestown Container Companies (corrugated containers)
- Blackstone Advanced Technologies (sheet metal)
- Truck-Lite (truck lighting systems)
In addition to manufacturing, Jamestown has a thriving tourism industry, many jobs in healthcare, and a strong agricultural industry with top producers like Welch’s, Kraft Foods, and Mogen David. You can search for jobs in Jamestown, NY on Indeed to get an idea of what awaits you.
Many Jamestown residents choose to commute to Erie, Pennsylvania for work. Curious what the commute would look like? Click the link for directions from Jamestown, NY to Erie, PA which is 50 miles away.
Jamestown, NY Schools
If you’re relocating to Jamestown, NY with kids or planning to start a family, the local schools are likely a big concern. Jamestown is served by Jamestown Public Schools, a district founded in 1867 and comprised of Jamestown High School, three middle schools, and five elementary schools.
Many students living in Jamestown go on to attend the University of Buffalo, SUNY, SUNY Jamestown Community College, Syracuse University, or Cornell University. SUNY Jamestown Community College offers 2-year and 4-year degrees with agreements with many area universities. The city also has the Jamestown Business College downtown with 4-year degrees.
Jamestown Climate — What to Expect
What’s Jamestown weather like? It’s a good question to ask if you plan to relocate to Jamestown. Make sure you pack a raincoat and boots because the city gets plenty of rain and snow.
Jamestown averages 46 inches of rain per year compared to the U.S. average of 38″. While the U.S. average is 28 inches of snow per year, Jamestown gets around 107 inches of snow mostly from December through March. It’s likely to rain throughout the year. About 158 days on average per year have some type of precipitation.
What’s it like living in Jamestown, NY throughout the year? You’ll usually avoid extreme temperatures with highs of 30° in the winter and lows of 20°. In the summer, it rarely goes above 80° or below 55°.
Living in Jamestown, NY Top Tips
- Enjoy a low cost of living in Jamestown with an average home price of $64,000
- Choose from several neighborhoods like the lively downtown area on the riverfront
- Spend your time outdoors or at Jamestown’s famous comedy attractions
- Find plenty of jobs in manufacturing, tourism, healthcare, and agriculture
- Pack a rain jacket and winter coat because there’s plenty of snow and rain
There are plenty of great reasons to move to Jamestown, NY, from its low cost of living and natural beauty to endless things to see and do. Have you decided to move to Jamestown? Our professional Jamestown movers are ready to help with a stress-free and efficient relocation. Contact Wayfinder Moving Services today at (716) 665-4832 to request a free moving estimate and find out more about our tailored moving services!
