The Town FilesMontezuma, New York
Town in Cayuga County · population 1,177 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,200
- Household income
- $73,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 95 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 45.1
Montezuma is a town of 1,177 people in Cayuga County, New York. The median home is worth $116,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 92% of New York towns, easier by car than 89% of New York towns, better for families than 77% of New York towns.
How Montezuma 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 Montezuma is worth $116,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $73,250, which is more affordable than 96% of New York towns. Median rent is $983 a month. 83.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montezuma | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $983 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $73,250 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Montezuma
| People | Montezuma | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Montezuma
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 95.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montezuma since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 21, 2011 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 21, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 22, 2004.
Severe weather in Cayuga County since 1996
Cayuga County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Cayuga County
Cayuga County had 24,605 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,623 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Montezuma itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Montezuma
- Mentz, NY3.8 mi · 2,114 people · home $115,500
- Port Byron, NY4.0 mi · 1,101 people · home $100,500
- Throop, NY4.5 mi · 1,831 people · home $185,900
- Tyre, NY4.9 mi · 1,013 people · home $161,900
- Savannah, NY5.4 mi · 1,632 people · home $101,900
- Aurelius, NY6.0 mi · 2,611 people · home $167,000
- Weedsport, NY7.2 mi · 1,788 people · home $166,800
- Conquest, NY7.5 mi · 1,791 people · home $150,000
Montezuma questions
Is Montezuma, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montezuma scores better for retirees than 42% of New York towns and quieter than 92%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.1).
How much does a house cost in Montezuma?
The median owner-occupied home in Montezuma is valued at $116,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,250, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $983 a month.
What is the weather like in Montezuma?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 95.2 inches of snow.
Does Montezuma get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montezuma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 21, 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)