South Cairo, New York Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 619, South Cairo'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

South Cairo is a small community located in New York, within Greene County. The total population is 619. It ranks as the 1000th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Cairo is 62.6 years. This is 57% higher than the state median of 39.8 years. Only 1.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 24.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 12% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The survey records no unemployed residents in South Cairo, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $187,200. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $423,800. 51.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

South Cairo has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.5% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 13.4%.

Education

4.9% 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 88% 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 98.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Cairo, 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.