Plattsburgh, New York Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Plattsburgh is a small city located in New York, within Clinton County. The total population is 19,830. It ranks as the 89th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Plattsburgh is 31.9 years. This is 20% lower than the state median of 39.8 years. Only 13.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Plattsburgh is $57,630. This is 33% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.7%. This is 62% 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 5.9%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $195,900. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $423,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 37.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% lower than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Plattsburgh is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.0% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.0%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

40.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about the same as 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 92.2%. Notably, 16.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Plattsburgh, 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.