The Town Files

Yates County, New York

24,526 people. The median home is worth $184,700 (typical New York town: $217,700) and the median household earns $69,701.

Towns in Yates County

Towns in Yates County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Milo6,803$165,200$62,50042.7
Penn Yan5,056$152,700$60,19048.5
Jerusalem4,405$320,900$86,78034.0
Starkey3,407$145,700$55,06441.3
Benton2,985$258,600$74,76740.6

People and housing

Yates CountyTypical New York town
Median home value$184,700$217,700
Median rent$834$1,080
Median household income$69,701$80,740
Median age42.543.5
Bachelor's degree or higher25.5%30.4%
Below the poverty line12.7%9.3%

Jobs and pay

7,028 jobs in 2024, average pay $49,380 a year.

Largest industries in Yates CountyManufacturing1,260 jobs · $52,575Retail725 jobs · $37,877Hotels & restaurants642 jobs · $24,514Construction444 jobs · $62,375Other services218 jobs · $43,662Real estate188 jobs · $35,225
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Yates County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 289 storm events in Yates County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Yates County by type since 1996Hail28Heat3Flood2Drought6Tornado3High Wind19Ice Storm7Heavy Snow41Flash Flood43Winter Storm17
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Yates County has been included in 21 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 24, 2024Tropical StormDR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby
October 8, 2021HurricaneDR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred
March 20, 2020BiologicalDR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3434: Covid-19
July 8, 2014Severe StormDR-4180: Severe Storms 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).