The Town FilesLee, New York
Town in Oneida County · population 6,171 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,700
- Household income
- $94,137
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 168 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 52.8
Lee is a town of 6,171 people in Oneida County, New York. The median home is worth $217,700, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 80% of New York towns, easier by car than 75% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of New York towns.
How Lee 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 Lee is worth $217,700, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $94,137, which is more affordable than 72% of New York towns. Median rent is $936 a month. 93.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lee | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $936 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $94,137 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lee
| People | Lee | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Lee
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 167.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lee since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 7, 2023 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 2013.
Severe weather in Oneida County since 1996
Oneida County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| 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 Oneida County
Oneida County had 102,542 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,102 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Lee itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near Lee
- Lake Delta, NY3.6 mi · 2,757 people · home $239,400
- Annsville, NY5.0 mi · 2,639 people · home $106,300
- Rome, NY7.0 mi · 32,127 people · home $154,400
- Floyd, NY11.5 mi · 3,733 people · home $204,200
- Verona, NY12.7 mi · 5,974 people · home $196,700
- Camden, NY12.9 mi · 4,787 people · home $179,100
- Vienna, NY14.3 mi · 5,260 people · home $125,000
- Westmoreland, NY14.6 mi · 5,924 people · home $238,100
Lee questions
Is Lee, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lee scores better for retirees than 41% of New York towns and quieter than 80%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.8).
How much does a house cost in Lee?
The median owner-occupied home in Lee is valued at $217,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,137, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $936 a month.
What is the weather like in Lee?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 167.7 inches of snow.
Does Lee get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 7, 2023. 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)