Lockport, NY Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Lockport, NY: What You Need to Know

If you’re moving to Lockport City in northwestern New York, the first thing you need to know is that there’s a town with the same name just outside the city. Both places are part of the thriving Buffalo-Niagara economic region.

Job Opportunities

The economy of Niagara County and its seat, Lockport City, rely on manufacturing, healthcare, retail trade, and tourism industries. The Lockport Industrial Park in the Town of Lockport is home to a key General Motors manufacturing facility. Yahoo! is the biggest tenant in the 400-acre industrial park, with operations that include a data center and call center. Other major employers in the area include Moog, Rich Products (wholesale food), Kaleida Health, Catholic Health, and Tops Markets.

Local History

Lockport’s development is intertwined with Erie Canal’s history. The city rose from the banks of the canal, which was built in 1817 and completed in 1825. Lockport was established at the location of the Flight of Five lock system, a staircase lock constructed to lift or lower a canal boat over the Niagara Escarpment (a 60-foot drop) in five stages. Named after the locks, the city was incorporated in 1865. It was the first official city in Niagara County.

Cost of Living

Lockport’s cost of living rate and food costs are 1.9% and 23.3% lower than the national average, respectively, but its housing cost is 10.5% higher than the national average. These percentages are comparable to Buffalo, 29 miles away, the closest big city. The median gross rent in Lockport is $696. New York imposes 4% to 8.82% in income tax and 4% to 8.875% in sales tax, among the highest in the United States.

Know Your Neighborhoods

The Erie Canal passes through the heart of Lockport (population: 20,305). Residents love the close-knit community and the city’s bike and walking paths, but not the abundant snowfall and high taxes. Those who live in the Town of Lockport say housing is better and more affordable in their neck of the woods plus the schools are highly ranked. If you have school-age children, the suburban communities of Rapids and Sanborn are nearby and they’re known for their outstanding schools.

Weather and Climate

Lockport gets about 72 inches of snow annually compared with the U.S. average of 28 inches, and 38 inches of rain per year, the national average. On Nov. 11, 2019, an overnight storm dumped 10.7 inches of snow in the city, breaking the previous record high of 5.2 inches on Nov. 11,1942.