The Town FilesNorth Elba, New York
Town in Essex County · population 7,480 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $431,600
- Household income
- $72,843
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 74°
- Snow a year
- 104 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.1
North Elba is a town of 7,480 people in Essex County, New York. The median home is worth $431,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 94% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 80% of New York towns.
How North Elba 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 North Elba is worth $431,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $72,843, which is more affordable than 8% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,073 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Elba | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $431,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,073 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $72,843 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 29.2% | — |
Who lives in North Elba
| People | North Elba | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 16.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in North Elba
July highs average 74.2°F and January lows 6.5°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 104.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of North Elba since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 6, 1952 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 1952.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on June 2, 2007.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 14,768 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,601 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in North Elba itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near North Elba
- Harrietstown, NY8.0 mi · 5,254 people · home $209,000
- Saranac Lake, NY9.3 mi · 4,887 people · home $199,900
- Tupper Lake, NY20.7 mi · 3,282 people · home $117,300
- Tupper Lake, NY21.0 mi · 5,147 people · home $151,300
- Moriah, NY27.5 mi · 4,716 people · home $138,200
North Elba questions
Is North Elba, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Elba scores better for retirees than 50% of New York towns and quieter than 37%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in North Elba?
The median owner-occupied home in North Elba is valued at $431,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,843, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $1,073 a month.
What is the weather like in North Elba?
July highs average 74.2°F and January lows 6.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 104.1 inches of snow.
Does North Elba get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of North Elba since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 6, 1952. 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)