Jefferson County, New York Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jefferson County is located in New York with a total population of 116,130. It is the 25th most populous county out of 62 in New York. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jefferson County is 33.2 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jefferson County is $64,978. This is 23% lower than the state median of $84,578. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.4%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $181,000. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $403,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Jefferson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jefferson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (80.8% vs 53.4%). The Black or African American population (4.6%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.3%) is well below the state average of 19.6%. The Asian population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 8.8%.

Education

25.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.3%.