The Town FilesHerkimer, New York
Town in Herkimer County · population 9,566 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,300
- Household income
- $56,287
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 45.6
Herkimer is a town of 9,566 people in Herkimer County, New York. The median home is worth $136,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of New York towns, more vibrant than 80% of New York towns.
How Herkimer 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 Herkimer is worth $136,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $56,287, which is more affordable than 67% of New York towns. Median rent is $820 a month. 59.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Herkimer | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $820 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $56,287 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1944 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Herkimer
| People | Herkimer | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Herkimer
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Herkimer since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 28, 2011 about 7.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 24, 2004.
Severe weather in Herkimer County since 1996
Herkimer County has been included in 25 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 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Herkimer County
Herkimer County had 15,519 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,384 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Herkimer itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Herkimer
- Herkimer, NY2.3 mi · 7,234 people · home $133,200
- Ilion, NY4.0 mi · 7,646 people · home $108,700
- German Flatts, NY5.6 mi · 12,263 people · home $119,800
- Schuyler, NY6.0 mi · 3,296 people · home $116,000
- Frankfort, NY7.0 mi · 7,011 people · home $155,200
- Little Falls, NY7.3 mi · 4,605 people · home $105,700
- Manheim, NY10.1 mi · 3,082 people · home $118,500
- Deerfield, NY11.5 mi · 3,983 people · home $231,300
Herkimer questions
Is Herkimer, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Herkimer scores better for retirees than 17% of New York towns and quieter than 25%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Herkimer?
The median owner-occupied home in Herkimer is valued at $136,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,287, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $820 a month.
What is the weather like in Herkimer?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 85.5 inches of snow.
Does Herkimer get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Herkimer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 28, 2011. 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)