The Town FilesDresden, New York
Town in Washington County · population 537 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,500
- Household income
- $64,180
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 59.0
Dresden is a town of 537 people in Washington County, New York. The median home is worth $191,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of New York towns, quieter than 89% of New York towns, better for retirees than 77% of New York towns.
How Dresden 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 Dresden is worth $191,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $64,180, which is more affordable than 45% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,066 a month. 87.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dresden | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,066 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $64,180 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 57.7% | — |
Who lives in Dresden
| People | Dresden | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Dresden
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.1°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Dresden since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 16, 2024 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| August 31, 2011 | Hurricane | DR-4020: Hurricane Irene |
| March 4, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1827: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 14,838 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,139 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Dresden itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Towns near Dresden
- Whitehall, NY3.6 mi · 2,465 people · home $102,000
- Whitehall, NY5.5 mi · 4,023 people · home $115,400
- Hague, NY8.0 mi · 633 people · home $325,900
- Fort Ann, NY8.1 mi · 5,812 people · home $222,300
- Hampton, NY9.3 mi · 857 people · home $166,800
- Bolton Landing, NY9.4 mi · 518 people · home $418,400
- Bolton, NY9.5 mi · 2,012 people · home $327,000
- Fair Haven, VT10.0 mi · 2,225 people · home $174,700
Dresden questions
Is Dresden, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dresden scores better for retirees than 77% of New York towns and quieter than 89%. 27.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.0).
How much does a house cost in Dresden?
The median owner-occupied home in Dresden is valued at $191,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,180, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,066 a month.
What is the weather like in Dresden?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 76.2 inches of snow.
Does Dresden get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Dresden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 16, 2024. 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)