The Town FilesShandaken, New York
Town in Ulster County · population 2,866 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $346,100
- Household income
- $66,031
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 74°
- Snow a year
- 105 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 54.1
Shandaken is a town of 2,866 people in Ulster County, New York. The median home is worth $346,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 99% of New York towns, quieter than 98% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of New York towns.
- #1 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New York
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #4 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Coolest Summers
- #14 in The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New York
- #16 in The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #17 in The 50 Best Places to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
How Shandaken 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 Shandaken is worth $346,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $66,031, which is more affordable than 10% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,191 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shandaken | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $346,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,191 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $66,031 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 34.3% | — |
Who lives in Shandaken
| People | Shandaken | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 10.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 24.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Shandaken
July highs average 74.0°F and January lows 12.3°F. About 63.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 104.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Shandaken since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 15, 2018.
Severe weather in Ulster County since 1996
Ulster County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Ulster County
Ulster County had 59,330 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,154 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Shandaken itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near Shandaken
- Olive, NY9.1 mi · 4,226 people · home $375,100
- Woodstock, NY9.3 mi · 6,287 people · home $604,700
- Woodstock, NY11.9 mi · 2,521 people · home $675,600
- Hunter, NY12.1 mi · 3,035 people · home $314,200
- Hurley, NY13.6 mi · 6,178 people · home $398,900
- Middletown, NY15.9 mi · 3,336 people · home $250,000
- Marbletown, NY16.2 mi · 5,658 people · home $466,400
- Rochester, NY17.8 mi · 7,272 people · home $354,300
Shandaken questions
Is Shandaken, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shandaken scores better for retirees than 96% of New York towns and quieter than 98%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.1).
How much does a house cost in Shandaken?
The median owner-occupied home in Shandaken is valued at $346,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,031, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,191 a month.
What is the weather like in Shandaken?
July highs average 74.0°F and January lows 12.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.1 inches of precipitation a year and 104.7 inches of snow.
Does Shandaken get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Shandaken in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)