The Town FilesOld Forge, New York
Community in Herkimer County · population 727 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $322,800
- Household income
- $75,076
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 158 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.5
Old Forge is a community of 727 people in Herkimer County, New York. The median home is worth $322,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 100% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of New York towns, better for retirees than 92% of New York towns.
How Old Forge 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 Old Forge is worth $322,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $75,076, which is more affordable than 20% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,164 a month. 65.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Old Forge | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $322,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,164 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $75,076 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1943 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 54.9% | — |
Who lives in Old Forge
| People | Old Forge | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 29.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 40.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Old Forge
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 5.5°F. About 49.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 157.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 183 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Old Forge since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 16, 2024 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 1, 2004.
Severe weather in Herkimer County since 1996
Herkimer County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Herkimer County
Herkimer County had 15,519 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,384 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Old Forge itself the ACS puts it at 10.4%.
Public schools in Old Forge
1 public school with 233 students, about 8.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOWN OF WEBB SCHOOL | PK-12 | 233 | 8.3 |
Towns near Old Forge
- Webb, NY8.7 mi · 1,797 people · home $362,000
- Ohio, NY11.3 mi · 962 people · home $144,800
- Greig, NY11.8 mi · 1,179 people · home $172,700
- Watson, NY15.8 mi · 1,802 people · home $161,300
- Lyonsdale, NY16.0 mi · 1,170 people · home $111,000
- Forestport, NY17.1 mi · 1,477 people · home $218,700
- Port Leyden, NY20.4 mi · 554 people · home $114,300
- Lyons Falls, NY20.6 mi · 570 people · home $119,400
Old Forge questions
Is Old Forge, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Old Forge scores better for retirees than 92% of New York towns and quieter than 100%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Old Forge?
The median owner-occupied home in Old Forge is valued at $322,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,076, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,164 a month.
What is the weather like in Old Forge?
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 5.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.8 inches of precipitation a year and 157.9 inches of snow.
Does Old Forge get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Old Forge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 16, 2024. 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)