The Town FilesForestburgh, New York
Town in Sullivan County · population 808 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $362,700
- Household income
- $133,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 52.9
Forestburgh is a town of 808 people in Sullivan County, New York. The median home is worth $362,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 100% of New York towns, better for retirees than 97% of New York towns, better for cycling than 96% of New York towns.
How Forestburgh 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 Forestburgh is worth $362,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $133,438, which is more affordable than 55% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,767 a month. 91.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forestburgh | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $362,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,767 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $133,438 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.9% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.5% | — |
Who lives in Forestburgh
| People | Forestburgh | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 8.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.9% | — |
| Work from home | 23.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Forestburgh
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forestburgh since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 28, 1996 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 2, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 30,393 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,182 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Forestburgh itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Forestburgh
- Thompson, NY6.1 mi · 16,550 people · home $229,000
- Monticello, NY6.4 mi · 7,173 people · home $172,000
- Lumberland, NY7.1 mi · 2,243 people · home $318,200
- Rock Hill, NY7.3 mi · 2,369 people · home $402,700
- Deerpark, NY8.0 mi · 7,509 people · home $247,400
- Smallwood, NY8.7 mi · 839 people · home $162,100
- Highland, NY9.2 mi · 2,196 people · home $255,000
- Wurtsboro Hills, NY10.6 mi · 867 people · home $183,100
Forestburgh questions
Is Forestburgh, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forestburgh scores better for retirees than 97% of New York towns and quieter than 100%. 32.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.9).
How much does a house cost in Forestburgh?
The median owner-occupied home in Forestburgh is valued at $362,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $133,438, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,767 a month.
What is the weather like in Forestburgh?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 57.9 inches of snow.
Does Forestburgh get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forestburgh since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 28, 1996. 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)