The Town FilesRoot, New York
Town in Montgomery County · population 2,013 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $209,000
- Household income
- $75,771
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 60 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 32.8
Root is a town of 2,013 people in Montgomery County, New York. The median home is worth $209,000, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 98% of New York towns, better for families than 92% of New York towns.
How Root 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 Root is worth $209,000, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $75,771, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. Median rent is $742 a month. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Root | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $209,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $742 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $75,771 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.5% | — |
Who lives in Root
| People | Root | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 33.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Root
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 60.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Root since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 10, 1989 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 23, 2012.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 26 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 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 19,149 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,762 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Root itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Towns near Root
- Canajoharie, NY5.7 mi · 2,037 people · home $125,800
- Canajoharie, NY6.7 mi · 3,660 people · home $137,500
- Charleston, NY6.7 mi · 1,355 people · home $184,200
- Palatine Bridge, NY6.8 mi · 796 people · home $155,900
- Carlisle, NY7.5 mi · 1,768 people · home $199,600
- Sharon, NY7.9 mi · 1,697 people · home $174,600
- Palatine, NY7.9 mi · 3,189 people · home $142,500
- Glen, NY7.9 mi · 2,536 people · home $198,800
Root questions
Is Root, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Root scores better for retirees than 19% of New York towns and quieter than 69%. 10.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Root?
The median owner-occupied home in Root is valued at $209,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,771, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $742 a month.
What is the weather like in Root?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 60.2 inches of snow.
Does Root get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Root since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 10, 1989. 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)