Jefferson County, New York Demographics 2026
Jefferson County, New York has a population of 115,040, the 25th most populous county in New York. The median household income is $66,301 and the median home value is $188,200. The poverty rate is 13.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Jefferson County Quick Facts
How Jefferson County 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 | 116,130 | 115,040 | -0.9% |
| Median household income | $64,978 | $66,301 | +2.0% |
| Median home value | $181,000 | $188,200 | +4.0% |
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+)
Cities & Places 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 |
| Adams Center | 1,075 | $87,727 | 10.1% | $178,100 |
| Theresa | 945 | $58,583 | 14.3% | $164,900 |
| Great Bend | 938 | N/A | 31.3% | $172,600 |
| Pamelia Center | 907 | $123,482 | 0.0% | $150,600 |
| Philadelphia | 821 | $69,732 | 32.5% | $160,400 |
| Dexter | 754 | $49,408 | 20.8% | $158,000 |
| Brownville | 700 | $101,563 | 3.3% | $192,300 |
| Antwerp | 683 | $56,964 | 10.1% | $128,100 |
| Cape Vincent | 658 | $62,054 | 11.6% | $231,000 |
| Evans Mills | 653 | $71,250 | 10.6% | $180,500 |
| Chaumont | 650 | $76,125 | 17.3% | $212,800 |
| Glen Park | 624 | $43,125 | 41.3% | $177,100 |
| La Fargeville | 512 | $61,250 | 16.0% | $307,100 |
| Pierrepont Manor | 425 | $83,324 | 4.2% | N/A |
| Mannsville | 417 | $83,125 | 14.7% | $175,000 |
| Felts Mills | 402 | $51,667 | 11.7% | $155,000 |
| Redwood | 371 | $109,643 | 14.6% | $183,000 |
| Deferiet | 366 | $66,875 | 13.4% | $131,900 |
| Depauville | 310 | N/A | 4.5% | $167,500 |
| Thousand Island Park | 222 | $190,250 | 0.0% | $376,600 |
| Belleville | 220 | $70,278 | 8.6% | $160,400 |
| Rodman | 220 | $57,188 | 5.0% | $99,200 |
| Henderson | 207 | $61,771 | 15.5% | $118,200 |
| Plessis | 176 | $155,053 | 0.0% | $152,100 |
| Ellisburg | 150 | $85,625 | 4.7% | $168,800 |
| Lorraine | 107 | N/A | 29.0% | $97,000 |
| Oxbow | 92 | $78,750 | 1.1% | $112,500 |
| Fishers Landing | 91 | $61,458 | 0.0% | $337,500 |
| Natural Bridge | 91 | $50,870 | 23.1% | $119,000 |
| Three Mile Bay | 44 | $34,464 | 9.1% | $205,800 |
Explore New York Rankings
Population Overview
Jefferson County is located in New York with a total population of 115,040. It is the 25th most populous county out of 62 in New York. The county encompasses 40 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Jefferson County is 33.7 years. This is 15% lower than the state median of 39.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Jefferson County is $66,301. This is 23% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.7%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $188,200. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Jefferson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Jefferson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (80.2% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.5%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.
Education
26.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% 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 92.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Jefferson County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New York and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Jefferson County, New York?
Jefferson County has a population of 115,040, making it the 25th most populous county in New York.
What is the median income in Jefferson County?
The median household income in Jefferson County is $66,301 with a poverty rate of 13.7%.
How many cities are in Jefferson County, New York?
Jefferson County contains 40 Census-designated places.