The Town Files

Orleans County, New York

39,608 people. The median home is worth $140,800 (typical New York town: $217,700) and the median household earns $65,969.

Towns in Orleans County

Towns in Orleans County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Albion7,639$102,400$49,77941.2
Ridgeway6,598$149,900$69,51642.3
Medina6,047$107,200$59,23139.2
Albion5,637$82,300$41,58141.4
Shelby4,907$136,000$65,65545.0
Murray4,796$123,800$65,07740.3
Clarendon3,315$179,700$57,60450.5
Gaines3,226$125,800$56,58245.5
Carlton2,835$158,800$81,67851.1
Kendall2,617$191,200$87,73440.1
Yates2,567$141,000$87,33740.9

People and housing

Orleans CountyTypical New York town
Median home value$140,800$217,700
Median rent$874$1,080
Median household income$65,969$80,740
Median age43.543.5
Bachelor's degree or higher17.9%30.4%
Below the poverty line12.7%9.3%

Jobs and pay

11,492 jobs in 2024, average pay $59,202 a year.

Largest industries in Orleans CountyManufacturing1,414 jobs · $68,631Health care & social assistan…1,271 jobs · $47,277Retail1,135 jobs · $36,076Agriculture, forestry & fishi…856 jobs · $43,561Hotels & restaurants730 jobs · $22,804Wholesale trade510 jobs · $63,558
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Orleans County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 328 storm events in Orleans County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Orleans County by type since 1996Hail25Flood6Drought5High Wind70Heavy Rain8Heavy Snow32Flash Flood17Frost/Freeze20Winter Storm33Coastal Flood7
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Orleans County has been included in 24 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 20, 2020BiologicalDR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3434: Covid-19
November 14, 2017FloodDR-4348: Flooding
July 12, 2017SnowstormDR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
December 22, 2014SnowstormDR-4204: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding
October 28, 2012HurricaneEM-3351: Hurricane Sandy
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).