The Town FilesOwasco, New York
Town in Cayuga County · population 3,552 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $282,100
- Household income
- $102,245
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 109 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 53.4
Owasco is a town of 3,552 people in Cayuga County, New York. The median home is worth $282,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 89% of New York towns, better for retirees than 85% of New York towns, quieter than 78% of New York towns.
How Owasco 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 Owasco is worth $282,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $102,245, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,109 a month. 94.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Owasco | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $282,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,109 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $102,245 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Owasco
| People | Owasco | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.4 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Owasco
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 109.4 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
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owasco since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 28, 2002 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 18, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 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 Owasco itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Owasco
- Auburn, NY4.7 mi · 26,866 people · home $152,800
- Skaneateles, NY4.9 mi · 7,112 people · home $457,800
- Skaneateles, NY4.9 mi · 2,533 people · home $647,100
- Sennett, NY5.9 mi · 3,304 people · home $279,300
- Aurelius, NY9.2 mi · 2,611 people · home $167,000
- Marcellus, NY9.2 mi · 6,066 people · home $245,700
- Brutus, NY10.8 mi · 4,314 people · home $154,900
- Elbridge, NY11.4 mi · 5,476 people · home $152,400
Owasco questions
Is Owasco, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Owasco scores better for retirees than 85% of New York towns and quieter than 78%. 28.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.4).
How much does a house cost in Owasco?
The median owner-occupied home in Owasco is valued at $282,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,245, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $2,109 a month.
What is the weather like in Owasco?
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 109.4 inches of snow.
Does Owasco get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owasco since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 28, 2002. 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)