The Town FilesIndian Lake, New York
Town in Hamilton County · population 1,363 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $254,800
- Household income
- $62,824
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 102 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 62.0
Indian Lake is a town of 1,363 people in Hamilton County, New York. The median home is worth $254,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 99% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of New York towns, better for retirees than 88% of New York towns.
How Indian Lake 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 Indian Lake is worth $254,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $62,824, which is more affordable than 23% of New York towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 79.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Indian Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $825 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $62,824 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 55.7% | — |
Who lives in Indian Lake
| People | Indian Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 41.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 9.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 24.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Indian Lake
July highs average 74.6°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 101.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Indian Lake since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 28, 1973 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 1973.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 18, 2017.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 29, 2024 | Flood | DR-4814: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 1,634 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,916 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Indian Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Indian Lake
1 public school with 121 students, about 6.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDIAN LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL | PK-12 | 121 | 6.1 |
Towns near Indian Lake
- Long Lake, NY12.2 mi · 596 people · home $275,000
- Minerva, NY12.8 mi · 773 people · home $171,800
- Lake Pleasant, NY15.4 mi · 897 people · home $248,400
- Long Lake, NY18.0 mi · 791 people · home $279,200
- Johnsburg, NY19.4 mi · 2,143 people · home $215,600
- North Creek, NY20.1 mi · 562 people · home $189,900
- Wells, NY22.5 mi · 683 people · home $268,600
- Chester, NY25.4 mi · 3,086 people · home $306,400
Indian Lake questions
Is Indian Lake, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Indian Lake scores better for retirees than 88% of New York towns and quieter than 99%. 41.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.0).
How much does a house cost in Indian Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Indian Lake is valued at $254,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,824, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Indian Lake?
July highs average 74.6°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 101.5 inches of snow.
Does Indian Lake get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Indian Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 28, 1973. 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)