The Town FilesAdams, New York
Town in Jefferson County · population 4,973 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,600
- Household income
- $78,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 157 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 38.6
Adams is a town of 4,973 people in Jefferson County, New York. The median home is worth $202,600, below the typical New York town ($217,700).
How Adams ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Adams is worth $202,600, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $78,750, which is more affordable than 59% of New York towns. Median rent is $742 a month. 73.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Adams | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $742 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $78,750 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Adams
| People | Adams | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Adams
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 156.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adams since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 28, 1983 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 1983.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 20, 1992.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 40,308 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,545 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Adams itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Towns near Adams
- Adams, NY2.9 mi · 1,633 people · home $192,400
- Adams Center, NY3.7 mi · 1,492 people · home $178,100
- Henderson, NY6.3 mi · 1,438 people · home $213,900
- Sackets Harbor, NY7.1 mi · 1,351 people · home $234,900
- Ellisburg, NY7.4 mi · 3,352 people · home $169,500
- Rodman, NY7.6 mi · 1,197 people · home $199,200
- Lorraine, NY7.8 mi · 924 people · home $152,400
- Watertown, NY9.1 mi · 5,913 people · home $217,400
Adams questions
Is Adams, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Adams scores better for retirees than 41% of New York towns and quieter than 60%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Adams?
The median owner-occupied home in Adams is valued at $202,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,750, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $742 a month.
What is the weather like in Adams?
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 156.7 inches of snow.
Does Adams get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adams since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 28, 1983. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)