The Town FilesOtisco, New York
Town in Onondaga County · population 2,368 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,900
- Household income
- $83,950
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 114 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.2
Otisco is a town of 2,368 people in Onondaga County, New York. The median home is worth $263,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of New York towns, better for families than 95% of New York towns, better for retirees than 92% of New York towns.
How Otisco 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 Otisco is worth $263,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $83,950, which is more affordable than 43% of New York towns. Median rent is $964 a month. 88.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otisco | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $964 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $83,950 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.0% | — |
Who lives in Otisco
| People | Otisco | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Otisco
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 113.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Otisco since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 29, 2006 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 29, 2013.
Severe weather in Onondaga County since 1996
Onondaga 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 |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| June 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1993: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Onondaga County
Onondaga County had 245,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,444 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Otisco itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Otisco
- Spafford, NY3.9 mi · 1,588 people · home $323,500
- Tully, NY5.9 mi · 2,676 people · home $249,700
- LaFayette, NY7.0 mi · 4,910 people · home $228,600
- Marcellus, NY7.4 mi · 6,066 people · home $245,700
- Tully, NY7.4 mi · 904 people · home $186,700
- Onondaga, NY8.2 mi · 22,937 people · home $246,200
- Scott, NY8.6 mi · 1,077 people · home $159,900
- Nedrow, NY9.1 mi · 2,095 people · home $106,900
Otisco questions
Is Otisco, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otisco scores better for retirees than 92% of New York towns and quieter than 80%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Otisco?
The median owner-occupied home in Otisco is valued at $263,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,950, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $964 a month.
What is the weather like in Otisco?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 113.9 inches of snow.
Does Otisco get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Otisco since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 29, 2006. 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)