The Town FilesSouth Cairo, New York
Community in Greene County · population 590 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,200
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 62.6
South Cairo is a community of 590 people in Greene County, New York. The median home is worth $187,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of New York towns, quieter than 75% of New York towns.
How South Cairo 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 South Cairo is worth $187,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Median rent is $958 a month. 51.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Cairo | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $958 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | — | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Cairo
| People | South Cairo | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 47.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 1.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in South Cairo
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 44.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.0 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Cairo 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 8.6 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 18 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 8, 2011.
Severe weather in Greene County since 1996
Greene 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 30, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4085: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Greene County
Greene County had 14,167 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,727 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in South Cairo itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near South Cairo
- Cairo, NY3.7 mi · 6,644 people · home $263,400
- Cairo, NY3.8 mi · 1,368 people · home $237,700
- Round Top, NY3.9 mi · 920 people · home $345,100
- Catskill, NY4.2 mi · 11,298 people · home $246,000
- Jefferson Heights, NY4.4 mi · 1,122 people · home $277,800
- Athens, NY5.0 mi · 3,916 people · home $274,700
- Catskill, NY6.2 mi · 3,745 people · home $242,500
- Palenville, NY6.8 mi · 1,002 people · home $238,500
South Cairo questions
Is South Cairo, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Cairo scores better for retirees than 89% of New York towns and quieter than 75%. 47.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.6).
How much does a house cost in South Cairo?
The median owner-occupied home in South Cairo is valued at $187,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is $958 a month.
What is the weather like in South Cairo?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 31.0 inches of snow.
Does South Cairo get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Cairo 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)