The Town FilesBarker, New York
Town in Broome County · population 2,509 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,600
- Household income
- $64,348
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 87 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 40.2
Barker is a town of 2,509 people in Broome County, New York. The median home is worth $128,600, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 96% of New York towns, more of a college town than 79% of New York towns, better for families than 76% of New York towns.
How Barker 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 Barker is worth $128,600, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $64,348, which is more affordable than 84% of New York towns. Median rent is $831 a month. 94.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barker | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $831 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $64,348 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Barker
| People | Barker | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Barker
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 86.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barker since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 21, 2026 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 17, 2021.
Severe weather in Broome County since 1996
Broome County has been included in 30 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 |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Broome County
Broome County had 82,881 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,392 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Barker itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Towns near Barker
- Chenango, NY3.4 mi · 10,959 people · home $172,000
- Triangle, NY6.3 mi · 2,809 people · home $124,400
- Chenango Bridge, NY7.0 mi · 2,884 people · home $168,200
- Fenton, NY7.1 mi · 6,429 people · home $143,900
- Maine, NY7.2 mi · 5,168 people · home $156,100
- Greene, NY8.6 mi · 5,296 people · home $176,800
- Dickinson, NY9.3 mi · 5,100 people · home $147,400
- Johnson City, NY10.0 mi · 15,343 people · home $117,100
Barker questions
Is Barker, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barker scores better for retirees than 9% of New York towns and quieter than 44%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Barker?
The median owner-occupied home in Barker is valued at $128,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,348, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $831 a month.
What is the weather like in Barker?
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 86.5 inches of snow.
Does Barker get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barker since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 21, 2026. 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)