Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Westfield gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $188K, 3.2 years of the Jamestown area’s $58K median household income. It grades C overall, ranked 537th of 745 in New York. The low prices come with trade-offs. The median household income is $47K, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line, and CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 75% of the country. On the plus side, natural-hazard risk is low. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 100% of U.S. towns. Only 14 of New York’s 1,216 towns score higher on history. Westfield's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 94% of U.S. towns. Only 3 of the 750 New York towns we compare have a lower median rent than Westfield.
Where Westfield beats most towns.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Westfield is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 2,476 in 1830, 4,545 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1867 and 2 maps from 1899 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Westfield, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Westfield.
Westfield gets more snow than nearly all U.S. towns and is healthier than towns with similar incomes, but it has household incomes well below the New York norm.
The median property tax bill is $2,618, against $6,582 across New York, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
Typical home values rose 7.2% in the year to September 2026. 66% of Westfield households own their home, where New York’s towns sit at 75% and U.S. towns at 73%.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 90% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Against the 4,575 U.S. towns with household incomes like Westfield’s, it is healthier than 64%, so its C− isn’t only a matter of income.
17% of Westfield adults report frequent physical distress, above both New York’s towns (14%) and U.S. towns (14%). 23% of Westfield adults say their health is fair or poor. Westfield beats the New York average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 13.
| Westfield | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 34% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 25% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 17% | 19% |
| What stands out | Westfield | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults lacking emotional support | 22% | 26.4% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.3% | 77.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.9% | 6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The Sherman weather station, 11 miles away, records that 225 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, more than in 100% of U.S. towns.
Westfield has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Westfield is 80°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The average commute for its 1,146 working residents takes 15.4 minutes, against 32.6 across New York.
Westfield’s average trip to work is 15 minutes. Jobs based in Westfield fell to 917 in 2023, 161 fewer than in 2013. 22% of working residents work locally in Westfield.
| Westfield | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 15 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 22% | 10% | 8% |
| Median household income | $47,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Westfield's reported crime rate is below New York's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025.
| Westfield | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 10.1 per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
0.0 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Welch Field Park | — | 5 |
| 2. Moore Park | — | 3 |
| 3. Wells St Pool & Field | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Westfield; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Westfield residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.
9 notable people were born in Westfield.
Town in New York, United States
Westfield is a town in the western part of Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 4,513 at the 2020 census. Westfield is also the name of a village within the town, containing 65% of the town's population. This unique town is accompanied by vineyards, gorges and historical buildings.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Westfield grades C overall, better than 31% of U.S. towns and #537 of 745 in New York. It grades C− for health and C+ for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
9 notable people were born here, including John Wrench and Alexander Wilson.