The Town FilesCopake Lake, New York
Community in Columbia County · population 767 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $610,300
- Household income
- $102,009
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 62.6
Copake Lake is a community of 767 people in Columbia County, New York. The median home is worth $610,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of New York towns, quieter than 93% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of New York towns.
How Copake 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 Copake Lake is worth $610,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $102,009, which is more affordable than 8% of New York towns. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Copake Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $610,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $102,009 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 48.8% | — |
Who lives in Copake Lake
| People | Copake Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 8.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Copake Lake
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.6 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Copake Lake since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on November 17, 2010 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 17, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2018.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 20,888 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,241 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Copake Lake itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Copake Lake
2 public schools with 1,032 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TACONIC HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 538 | 11.4 |
| TACONIC HILLSJUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 494 | 9.9 |
Towns near Copake Lake
- Copake, NY2.8 mi · 3,346 people · home $325,000
- Taconic Shores, NY3.1 mi · 547 people · home $243,300
- Taghkanic, NY4.2 mi · 1,231 people · home $442,400
- Claverack, NY6.8 mi · 6,058 people · home $326,200
- Hillsdale, NY6.9 mi · 1,831 people · home $404,700
- Philmont, NY7.5 mi · 1,377 people · home $225,000
- Ancram, NY7.7 mi · 1,440 people · home $449,000
- Egremont, MA8.0 mi · 1,372 people · home $664,900
Copake Lake questions
Is Copake Lake, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Copake Lake scores better for retirees than 97% of New York towns and quieter than 93%. 37.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.6).
How much does a house cost in Copake Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Copake Lake is valued at $610,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,009, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Copake Lake?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 49.6 inches of snow.
Does Copake Lake get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Copake Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on November 17, 2010. 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)