The Town FilesCentral Square, New York
Village in Oswego County · population 1,862 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,000
- Household income
- $69,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 129 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 43.3
Central Square is a village of 1,862 people in Oswego County, New York. The median home is worth $196,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 79% of New York towns, easier by car than 79% of New York towns, more vibrant than 78% of New York towns.
How Central Square 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 Central Square is worth $196,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $69,500, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. Median rent is $908 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central Square | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $908 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $69,500 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Central Square
| People | Central Square | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Central Square
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 12.6°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 128.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central Square since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 18, 2017.
Severe weather in Oswego County since 1996
Oswego County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4839: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 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 Oswego County
Oswego County had 32,163 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,152 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Central Square itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Central Square
4 public schools with 2,759 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL V MOORE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,083 | 12.7 |
| CENTRAL SQUARE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 827 | 10.3 |
| MILLARD HAWK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 466 | 15.0 |
| HASTINGS MALLORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 383 | 13.7 |
Towns near Central Square
- Hastings, NY2.5 mi · 9,342 people · home $187,700
- West Monroe, NY3.0 mi · 4,088 people · home $185,100
- Brewerton, NY3.7 mi · 3,907 people · home $195,600
- Sand Ridge, NY4.9 mi · 992 people · home $211,500
- Constantia, NY6.9 mi · 1,109 people · home $175,700
- Schroeppel, NY7.0 mi · 7,969 people · home $188,400
- Clay, NY7.8 mi · 60,527 people · home $205,900
- Palermo, NY8.2 mi · 3,470 people · home $138,800
Central Square questions
Is Central Square, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central Square scores better for retirees than 29% of New York towns and quieter than 20%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Central Square?
The median owner-occupied home in Central Square is valued at $196,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,500, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $908 a month.
What is the weather like in Central Square?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 12.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 128.7 inches of snow.
Does Central Square get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central Square since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 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)