The Town FilesSaranac Lake, New York
Village in Franklin County · population 4,887 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $199,900
- Household income
- $61,967
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 104 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 40.7
Saranac Lake is a village of 4,887 people in Franklin County, New York. The median home is worth $199,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of New York towns, hipper than 94% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 85% of New York towns.
How Saranac Lake 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 Saranac Lake is worth $199,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $61,967, which is more affordable than 40% of New York towns. Median rent is $853 a month. 47.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Saranac Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $853 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $61,967 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 47.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Saranac Lake
| People | Saranac Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Saranac Lake
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 2.3°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 104.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 201 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Saranac Lake since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 6, 1952 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 1952.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on July 18, 2016.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 20 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 |
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 17,453 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,442 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Saranac Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Saranac Lake
4 public schools with 1,061 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARANAC LAKE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 374 | 11.3 |
| PETROVA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 314 | 10.1 |
| SARANAC LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 275 | 9.2 |
| BLOOMINGDALE SCHOOL | K-5 | 98 | 10.9 |
Towns near Saranac Lake
- Harrietstown, NY8.3 mi · 5,254 people · home $209,000
- North Elba, NY9.3 mi · 7,480 people · home $431,600
- Tupper Lake, NY17.6 mi · 5,147 people · home $151,300
- Tupper Lake, NY17.7 mi · 3,282 people · home $117,300
- Saranac, NY27.7 mi · 3,852 people · home $173,200
Saranac Lake questions
Is Saranac Lake, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Saranac Lake scores better for retirees than 71% of New York towns and quieter than 47%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Saranac Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Saranac Lake is valued at $199,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,967, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $853 a month.
What is the weather like in Saranac Lake?
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 104.1 inches of snow.
Does Saranac Lake get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Saranac Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 6, 1952. 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)