Fort Drum, New York Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Fort Drum, New York had a total population of 16,065, the 120th largest community in New York, with a median household income of $62,291, which is 28% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 8.7% is notably above the national average.
Fort Drum Quick Facts
How Fort Drum Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,124 | 16,065 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $63,194 | $62,291 | -1.4% |
How Fort Drum Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Fort Drum Rankings in New York
Explore New York Rankings
Other Cities in Jefferson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | 24,375 | $51,753 | 20.1% | $158,600 |
| Carthage | 3,510 | $58,125 | 25.8% | $131,200 |
| Calcium | 2,935 | $57,668 | 17.3% | $203,400 |
| West Carthage | 1,864 | $49,885 | 10.4% | $192,100 |
| Clayton | 1,661 | $60,573 | 19.5% | $231,800 |
| Black River | 1,651 | $86,645 | 11.8% | $228,200 |
| Adams | 1,531 | $64,432 | 8.9% | $192,400 |
| Sackets Harbor | 1,490 | $77,043 | 14.0% | $234,900 |
| Alexandria Bay | 1,212 | $55,048 | 10.8% | $154,100 |
| Adams Center | 1,075 | $87,727 | 10.1% | $178,100 |
Cities Similar to Fort Drum
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneonta | 15,045 | $61,111 | $184,100 | 47.4% | 16.6% |
| Batavia | 15,097 | $59,446 | $148,900 | 21.5% | 14.2% |
| Tonawanda | 15,030 | $58,326 | $173,600 | 28.5% | 13.8% |
| Cortland | 17,450 | $59,482 | $152,600 | 27.2% | 20.8% |
| Johnson City | 14,940 | $56,283 | $117,100 | 29.6% | 19.6% |
Population Overview
Fort Drum is a small city located in New York, within Jefferson County. The total population is 16,065. It ranks as the 120th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.
Age Demographics
The median age in Fort Drum is 23.3 years. This is 41% lower than the state median of 39.8 years. With 31.4% of the population under 18, Fort Drum has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Fort Drum is $62,291. This is 28% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 8.7%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. 4.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 93% lower than the state average of 54.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Fort Drum is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 20.8%.
Education
34.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Fort Drum, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all New York city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Fort Drum, New York?
Fort Drum, New York has a population of 16,065 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Fort Drum, NY?
The median household income in Fort Drum is $62,291, which is 23% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Fort Drum, NY?
The poverty rate in Fort Drum is 11.7%. This means approximately 1,642 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Fort Drum, New York?
Fort Drum's population is 59.1% White, 9.8% Black, 20.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 4.5% Asian.
What is the median home value in Fort Drum, NY?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Fort Drum — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Fort Drum, New York?
34.8% of adults (25+) in Fort Drum hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.