The Town FilesPoestenkill, New York
Community in Rensselaer County · population 1,020 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $291,900
- Household income
- $113,036
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 52.2
Poestenkill is a community of 1,020 people in Rensselaer County, New York. The median home is worth $291,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 93% of New York towns, more upscale than 82% of New York towns, easier by car than 82% of New York towns.
How Poestenkill 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 Poestenkill is worth $291,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $113,036, which is more affordable than 59% of New York towns. 89.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Poestenkill | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $291,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $113,036 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.9% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Poestenkill
| People | Poestenkill | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 11.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 19.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Poestenkill
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poestenkill since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 31, 1998 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 1, 2001.
Severe weather in Rensselaer County since 1996
Rensselaer County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County had 56,791 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $78,789 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Poestenkill itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Poestenkill
- Poestenkill, NY1.6 mi · 4,322 people · home $303,700
- Averill Park, NY3.4 mi · 2,098 people · home $273,300
- Brunswick, NY3.9 mi · 12,581 people · home $285,600
- West Sand Lake, NY4.4 mi · 2,616 people · home $315,800
- Sand Lake, NY4.4 mi · 8,348 people · home $336,200
- Wynantskill, NY4.7 mi · 4,050 people · home $293,400
- North Greenbush, NY6.1 mi · 13,292 people · home $339,800
- Troy, NY6.8 mi · 51,401 people · home $206,500
Poestenkill questions
Is Poestenkill, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Poestenkill scores better for retirees than 60% of New York towns and quieter than 56%. 28.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Poestenkill?
The median owner-occupied home in Poestenkill is valued at $291,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $113,036, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Poestenkill?
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 52.7 inches of snow.
Does Poestenkill get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poestenkill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 31, 1998. 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)