The Town FilesSullivan, New York
Town in Madison County · population 14,794 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,100
- Household income
- $80,948
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 127 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.0
Sullivan is a town of 14,794 people in Madison County, New York. The median home is worth $194,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 74% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 71% of New York towns, better for cycling than 70% of New York towns.
How Sullivan 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 Sullivan is worth $194,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $80,948, which is more affordable than 67% of New York towns. Median rent is $863 a month. 83.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sullivan | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $863 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $80,948 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.3% | — |
Who lives in Sullivan
| People | Sullivan | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Sullivan
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 127.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Sullivan since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 16, 2024 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 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 Sullivan itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Sullivan
- Chittenango, NY3.1 mi · 4,896 people · home $182,500
- Manlius, NY5.5 mi · 33,712 people · home $253,600
- Minoa, NY6.4 mi · 3,657 people · home $179,400
- Canastota, NY6.5 mi · 4,556 people · home $144,800
- Lenox, NY6.5 mi · 8,768 people · home $161,600
- Fayetteville, NY7.1 mi · 4,225 people · home $258,700
- Manlius, NY7.9 mi · 4,662 people · home $263,300
- East Syracuse, NY9.6 mi · 3,078 people · home $126,200
Sullivan questions
Is Sullivan, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sullivan scores better for retirees than 34% of New York towns and quieter than 45%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Sullivan?
The median owner-occupied home in Sullivan is valued at $194,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,948, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $863 a month.
What is the weather like in Sullivan?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 127.2 inches of snow.
Does Sullivan get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Sullivan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 16, 2024. 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)