Great Bend, New York Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Great Bend, New York had a total population of 938, the 880th largest community in New York. The poverty rate is 31.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (31.3%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Unemployment rate of 31.6% is notably above the national average.
Great Bend Quick Facts
How Great Bend 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 | 942 | 938 | -0.4% |
| Median home value | $125,000 | $172,600 | +38.1% |
How Great Bend 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 less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Great Bend 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 |
| Fort Drum | 16,065 | $62,291 | 11.7% | N/A |
| 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 |
Cities Similar to Great Bend
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otego | 936 | $78,804 | $186,100 | 33.7% | 6.8% |
| Quiogue | 941 | $129,405 | $1,092,600 | 63.4% | 6.5% |
| Spencer | 932 | $51,765 | $154,300 | 28.2% | 31.0% |
| Point Lookout | 945 | $81,635 | $1,098,600 | 52.6% | 9.3% |
| Theresa | 945 | $58,583 | $164,900 | 6.5% | 14.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 938, Great Bend's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Great Bend is a small community located in New York, within Jefferson County. The total population is 938. It ranks as the 880th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.
Age Demographics
The median age in Great Bend is 40.5 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The poverty rate stands at 31.3%. This is 124% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 31.6%. This is 396% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $172,600. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $423,800. 56.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 54.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Great Bend is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (80.8% vs 52.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.
Education
17.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Great Bend, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Great Bend, New York?
Great Bend, New York has a population of 938 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Great Bend, NY?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Great Bend — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Great Bend, NY?
The poverty rate in Great Bend is 31.3%. This means approximately 294 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Great Bend, New York?
Great Bend's population is 80.8% White, 13.0% Black, 2.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Great Bend, NY?
The median home value in Great Bend is $172,600.
How educated is Great Bend, New York?
17.3% of adults (25+) in Great Bend hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.