Machias, New York Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 751, Machias'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

Machias is a small community located in New York, within Cattaraugus County. The total population is 751. It ranks as the 928th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Machias is 50.8 years. This is 28% higher than the state median of 39.8 years. 11.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Machias is $74,178. This is 14% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $49,600. Housing costs are 88% lower than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.7x, Machias is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 87.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 60% higher than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Machias was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 99.7% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

6.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 84% 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 95.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Machias, 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.