The Town FilesMacDonnell Heights, New York
Community in Dutchess County · population 1,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $354,800
- Household income
- $141,579
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 50.9
MacDonnell Heights is a community of 1,291 people in Dutchess County, New York. The median home is worth $354,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 92% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of New York towns, more walkable than 75% of New York towns.
How MacDonnell Heights 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 MacDonnell Heights is worth $354,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $141,579, which is more affordable than 63% of New York towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | MacDonnell Heights | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $354,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $141,579 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in MacDonnell Heights
| People | MacDonnell Heights | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 49.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in MacDonnell Heights
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of MacDonnell Heights since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 18, 2000 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2020.
Severe weather in Dutchess County since 1996
Dutchess County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Dutchess County
Dutchess County had 112,897 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,950 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in MacDonnell Heights itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near MacDonnell Heights
- Arlington, NY2.4 mi · 3,010 people · home $315,300
- Vassar College, NY2.6 mi · 2,472 people · home $415,600
- Pleasant Valley, NY2.7 mi · 1,603 people · home $292,700
- Fairview, NY2.9 mi · 5,475 people · home $283,500
- Poughkeepsie, NY3.4 mi · 31,577 people · home $283,700
- Titusville, NY3.5 mi · 729 people · home $397,100
- Marist College, NY3.8 mi · 2,894 people · home —
- Haviland, NY3.8 mi · 4,174 people · home $319,500
MacDonnell Heights questions
Is MacDonnell Heights, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, MacDonnell Heights scores better for retirees than 46% of New York towns and quieter than 30%. 29.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.9).
How much does a house cost in MacDonnell Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in MacDonnell Heights is valued at $354,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $141,579, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in MacDonnell Heights?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 52.5 inches of snow.
Does MacDonnell Heights get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of MacDonnell Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 18, 2000. 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)