The Town FilesOtselic, New York
Town in Chenango County · population 859 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,800
- Household income
- $63,854
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 81 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 53.3
Otselic is a town of 859 people in Chenango County, New York. The median home is worth $107,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 93% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 77% of New York towns.
How Otselic 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 Otselic is worth $107,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $63,854, which is more affordable than 94% of New York towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 86.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otselic | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $900 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $63,854 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.4% | — |
Who lives in Otselic
| People | Otselic | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Otselic
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.3°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 80.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otselic since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Chenango County since 1996
Chenango County has been included in 31 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 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Chenango County
Chenango County had 17,279 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,170 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Otselic itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Otselic
1 public school with 290 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL | PK-12 | 290 | 12.6 |
Towns near Otselic
- Pharsalia, NY5.4 mi · 516 people · home $126,400
- Smyrna, NY6.2 mi · 1,237 people · home $89,500
- Georgetown, NY7.6 mi · 648 people · home $125,800
- Pitcher, NY7.7 mi · 667 people · home $116,000
- Plymouth, NY8.3 mi · 1,619 people · home $154,700
- DeRuyter, NY8.5 mi · 1,276 people · home $125,300
- Lebanon, NY9.1 mi · 1,326 people · home $127,600
- Cuyler, NY10.6 mi · 908 people · home $159,400
Otselic questions
Is Otselic, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otselic scores better for retirees than 36% of New York towns and quieter than 93%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.3).
How much does a house cost in Otselic?
The median owner-occupied home in Otselic is valued at $107,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,854, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Otselic?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 80.9 inches of snow.
Does Otselic get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otselic since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 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)