The Town FilesBeacon, New York
City in Dutchess County · population 13,769 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $471,600
- Household income
- $107,859
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.0
Beacon is a city of 13,769 people in Dutchess County, New York. The median home is worth $471,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 99% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 94% of New York towns, more walkable than 91% of New York towns.
How Beacon 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 Beacon is worth $471,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $107,859, which is more affordable than 18% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,658 a month. 61.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Beacon | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $471,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,658 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $107,859 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Beacon
| People | Beacon | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.7% | — |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 41.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Beacon
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 51.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beacon since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 29, 1971 about 3.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 6, 2014.
Severe weather in Dutchess County since 1996
Dutchess County has been included in 27 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 |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dutchess County
Dutchess County had 112,897 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,950 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Beacon itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Beacon
5 public schools with 2,196 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEACON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 830 | 10.2 |
| ROMBOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 582 | 9.7 |
| SARGENT SCHOOL | PK-5 | 302 | 10.4 |
| SOUTH AVENUE SCHOOL | PK-5 | 252 | 9.7 |
| J V FORRESTAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 230 | 9.6 |
Towns near Beacon
- Fishkill, NY2.3 mi · 24,226 people · home $419,600
- Newburgh, NY2.8 mi · 28,856 people · home $247,900
- Balmville, NY3.5 mi · 3,197 people · home $392,200
- New Windsor, NY4.2 mi · 8,882 people · home $345,200
- Gardnertown, NY5.4 mi · 4,542 people · home $311,700
- Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY5.5 mi · 3,075 people · home $471,200
- Vails Gate, NY5.5 mi · 3,368 people · home $310,100
- Firthcliffe, NY5.5 mi · 5,022 people · home $407,400
Beacon questions
Is Beacon, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Beacon scores better for retirees than 57% of New York towns and quieter than 20%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Beacon?
The median owner-occupied home in Beacon is valued at $471,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,859, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,658 a month.
What is the weather like in Beacon?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 35.7 inches of snow.
Does Beacon get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beacon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 29, 1971. 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)