The Town FilesPenn Yan, New York
Village in Yates County · population 5,056 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,700
- Household income
- $60,190
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 48.5
Penn Yan is a village of 5,056 people in Yates County, New York. The median home is worth $152,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of New York towns, better for retirees than 71% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 70% of New York towns.
How Penn Yan 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 Penn Yan is worth $152,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $60,190, which is more affordable than 63% of New York towns. Median rent is $663 a month. 61.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Penn Yan | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $663 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $60,190 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Penn Yan
| People | Penn Yan | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Penn Yan
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 30.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Penn Yan since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 3, 2018 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 21, 2013.
Severe weather in Yates County since 1996
Yates County has been included in 21 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 |
| 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 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Yates County
Yates County had 7,028 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,380 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Penn Yan itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Penn Yan
3 public schools with 1,251 students, about 8.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PENN YAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 527 | 7.9 |
| PENN YAN ACADEMY | 9-12 | 419 | 9.1 |
| PENN YAN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 305 | 8.0 |
Towns near Penn Yan
- Milo, NY4.2 mi · 6,803 people · home $165,200
- Benton, NY4.2 mi · 2,985 people · home $258,600
- Jerusalem, NY6.3 mi · 4,405 people · home $320,900
- Starkey, NY11.0 mi · 3,407 people · home $145,700
- Romulus, NY11.9 mi · 3,203 people · home $178,800
- Seneca, NY12.0 mi · 2,644 people · home $192,700
- Gorham, NY12.0 mi · 4,106 people · home $263,300
- Geneva, NY12.2 mi · 3,473 people · home $232,600
Penn Yan questions
Is Penn Yan, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Penn Yan scores better for retirees than 71% of New York towns and quieter than 54%. 30.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in Penn Yan?
The median owner-occupied home in Penn Yan is valued at $152,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,190, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $663 a month.
What is the weather like in Penn Yan?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.2 inches of precipitation a year and 56.5 inches of snow.
Does Penn Yan get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Penn Yan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 3, 2018. 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)