The Town FilesJefferson, New York
Town in Schoharie County · population 1,333 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,900
- Household income
- $67,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 53.9
Jefferson is a town of 1,333 people in Schoharie County, New York. The median home is worth $186,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 98% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of New York towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $186,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $67,083, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. 94.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $67,083 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 27.9% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 23.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 44.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 29, 2013 about 2.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 23, 2012.
Severe weather in Schoharie County since 1996
Schoharie County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Schoharie County
Schoharie County had 8,062 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,611 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Jefferson
1 public school with 150 students, about 6.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFERSON CENTRAL SCHOOL | PK-12 | 150 | 6.0 |
Towns near Jefferson
- Stamford, NY5.6 mi · 1,040 people · home $178,600
- Harpersfield, NY5.7 mi · 1,442 people · home $222,800
- Summit, NY5.9 mi · 1,072 people · home $150,000
- Worcester, NY8.7 mi · 2,112 people · home $155,300
- Gilboa, NY8.8 mi · 1,111 people · home $219,600
- Richmondville, NY10.2 mi · 858 people · home $160,900
- Fulton, NY10.5 mi · 1,199 people · home $189,200
- Kortright, NY10.7 mi · 1,544 people · home $217,000
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 81% of New York towns and quieter than 98%. 30.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.9).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $186,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,083, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.8 inches of precipitation a year and 68.9 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 29, 2013. 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)