The Town FilesAltona, New York
Community in Clinton County · population 662 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,500
- Household income
- $39,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 107 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 37.4
Altona is a community of 662 people in Clinton County, New York. The median home is worth $187,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 90% of New York towns, quieter than 83% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of New York towns.
How Altona 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 Altona is worth $187,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $39,000, which is more affordable than 13% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,107 a month. 39.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Altona | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,107 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $39,000 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 39.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Altona
| People | Altona | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 3.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 10.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 50.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Altona
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows 6.7°F. About 35.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 107.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Altona since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 8, 2004 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 6, 1998.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| July 12, 2013 | Flood | DR-4129: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 32,264 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,550 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Altona itself the ACS puts it at 18.4%.
Towns near Altona
- Altona, NY3.4 mi · 2,666 people · home $151,400
- Mooers, NY4.6 mi · 3,467 people · home $176,400
- West Chazy, NY8.8 mi · 558 people · home $93,800
- Chazy, NY10.0 mi · 4,096 people · home $187,400
- Beekmantown, NY10.4 mi · 5,508 people · home $176,700
- Chazy, NY11.3 mi · 548 people · home $214,600
- Ellenburg, NY11.4 mi · 1,842 people · home $123,000
- Dannemora, NY12.1 mi · 4,037 people · home $134,600
Altona questions
Is Altona, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Altona scores better for retirees than 14% of New York towns and quieter than 83%. 3.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Altona?
The median owner-occupied home in Altona is valued at $187,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,000, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,107 a month.
What is the weather like in Altona?
July highs average 78.2°F and January lows 6.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.7 inches of precipitation a year and 107.1 inches of snow.
Does Altona get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Altona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 8, 2004. 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)