The Town FilesCaroga Lake, New York
Community in Fulton County · population 548 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,700
- Household income
- $55,200
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 129 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 62.1
Caroga Lake is a community of 548 people in Fulton County, New York. The median home is worth $124,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 100% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 83% of New York towns.
How Caroga Lake 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 Caroga Lake is worth $124,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $55,200, which is more affordable than 72% of New York towns. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Caroga Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $55,200 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 69.6% | — |
Who lives in Caroga Lake
| People | Caroga Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 43.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 6.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Caroga Lake
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 128.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caroga Lake since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 31, 2002 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 21, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 19, 2007.
Severe weather in Fulton County since 1996
Fulton County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Fulton County
Fulton County had 16,102 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,770 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Caroga Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Caroga Lake
1 public school with 105 students, about 8.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHEELERVILLE SCHOOL | PK-8 | 105 | 8.1 |
Towns near Caroga Lake
- Caroga, NY2.3 mi · 1,264 people · home $172,300
- Bleecker, NY5.7 mi · 545 people · home $221,100
- Johnstown, NY7.5 mi · 6,867 people · home $193,500
- Ephratah, NY7.9 mi · 1,677 people · home $111,500
- Stratford, NY8.3 mi · 538 people · home $156,600
- Gloversville, NY9.0 mi · 15,131 people · home $106,400
- Oppenheim, NY10.3 mi · 1,751 people · home $112,700
- Johnstown, NY10.3 mi · 8,204 people · home $157,800
Caroga Lake questions
Is Caroga Lake, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Caroga Lake scores better for retirees than 62% of New York towns and quieter than 100%. 43.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.1).
How much does a house cost in Caroga Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Caroga Lake is valued at $124,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,200, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Caroga Lake?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 128.8 inches of snow.
Does Caroga Lake get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caroga Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 31, 2002. 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)