The Town FilesThompson, New York
Town in Sullivan County · population 16,550 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,000
- Household income
- $65,021
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 40.4
Thompson is a town of 16,550 people in Sullivan County, New York. The median home is worth $229,000, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 74% of New York towns, more vibrant than 73% of New York towns.
How Thompson 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 Thompson is worth $229,000, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $65,021, which is more affordable than 35% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,126 a month. 46.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thompson | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,126 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $65,021 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 46.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.4% | — |
Who lives in Thompson
| People | Thompson | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Thompson
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thompson since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 9, 1972 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 2, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 6, 2020.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 35 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 Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 30,393 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,182 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Thompson itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Towns near Thompson
- Monticello, NY0.7 mi · 7,173 people · home $172,000
- Fallsburg, NY7.3 mi · 14,192 people · home $256,000
- Bethel, NY9.6 mi · 3,959 people · home $247,700
- Mamakating, NY10.3 mi · 12,655 people · home $246,800
- Liberty, NY10.9 mi · 4,700 people · home $181,900
- Liberty, NY12.6 mi · 10,159 people · home $248,500
- Deerpark, NY13.6 mi · 7,509 people · home $247,400
- Wawarsing, NY15.0 mi · 12,771 people · home $236,900
Thompson questions
Is Thompson, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thompson scores better for retirees than 22% of New York towns and quieter than 21%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Thompson?
The median owner-occupied home in Thompson is valued at $229,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,021, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,126 a month.
What is the weather like in Thompson?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 57.9 inches of snow.
Does Thompson get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thompson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 9, 1972. 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)