The Town FilesSmithfield, New York
Town in Madison County · population 1,127 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,500
- Household income
- $81,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 99 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 44.2
Smithfield is a town of 1,127 people in Madison County, New York. The median home is worth $161,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of New York towns, quieter than 90% of New York towns, easier by car than 83% of New York towns.
How Smithfield 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 Smithfield is worth $161,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $81,250, which is more affordable than 84% of New York towns. 92.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smithfield | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $81,250 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Smithfield
| People | Smithfield | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Smithfield
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.3°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 99.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithfield since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 8, 2014 about 2.1 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 3, 2007.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 12, 2013 | Flood | DR-4129: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 20,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,324 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Smithfield itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Smithfield
- Stockbridge, NY4.0 mi · 1,972 people · home $139,400
- Morrisville, NY4.7 mi · 1,633 people · home $171,900
- Eaton, NY5.4 mi · 4,284 people · home $119,400
- Fenner, NY5.6 mi · 1,668 people · home $184,200
- Lincoln, NY5.8 mi · 1,802 people · home $202,100
- Nelson, NY6.8 mi · 1,890 people · home $230,000
- Oneida, NY7.3 mi · 10,329 people · home $160,100
- Sherrill, NY8.0 mi · 3,077 people · home $227,500
Smithfield questions
Is Smithfield, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smithfield scores better for retirees than 25% of New York towns and quieter than 90%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Smithfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Smithfield is valued at $161,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,250, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Smithfield?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 99.2 inches of snow.
Does Smithfield get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 8, 2014. 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)