Rifton, New York Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 541, Rifton'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

Rifton is a small community located in New York, within Ulster County. The total population is 541. It ranks as the 1037th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rifton is 58.6 years. This is 47% higher than the state median of 39.8 years. Only 5.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rifton is $2,499. This is 97% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 97% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 40.3%. This is 188% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Rifton, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $227,800. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $423,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 91.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 90.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 66% higher than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rifton is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (84.1% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (5.0%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 19.8%.

Education

21.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% 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 Rifton, 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.