The Town FilesDexter, New York
Village in Jefferson County · population 1,004 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,000
- Household income
- $49,408
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 116 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.7
Dexter is a village of 1,004 people in Jefferson County, New York. The median home is worth $158,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of New York towns, quieter than 87% of New York towns, better for families than 77% of New York towns.
How Dexter 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 Dexter is worth $158,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $49,408, which is more affordable than 40% of New York towns. Median rent is $620 a month. 64.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dexter | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $620 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $49,408 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Dexter
| People | Dexter | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Dexter
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 116.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Dexter since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on June 30, 2006.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 40,308 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,545 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Dexter itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Dexter
2 public schools with 976 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL BROWN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 654 | 14.9 |
| DEXTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 322 | 14.6 |
Towns near Dexter
- Brownville, NY2.3 mi · 5,842 people · home $211,700
- Brownville, NY3.0 mi · 930 people · home $192,300
- Chaumont, NY6.0 mi · 615 people · home $212,800
- Sackets Harbor, NY6.1 mi · 1,351 people · home $234,900
- Watertown, NY7.1 mi · 24,685 people · home $158,600
- Pamelia, NY7.3 mi · 3,343 people · home $167,900
- Watertown, NY8.2 mi · 5,913 people · home $217,400
- Lyme, NY9.3 mi · 2,299 people · home $234,700
Dexter questions
Is Dexter, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dexter scores better for retirees than 65% of New York towns and quieter than 87%. 27.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Dexter?
The median owner-occupied home in Dexter is valued at $158,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,408, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $620 a month.
What is the weather like in Dexter?
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 116.4 inches of snow.
Does Dexter get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Dexter in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)