The Town FilesThurston, New York
Town in Steuben County · population 1,253 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $138,800
- Household income
- $73,409
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 49.7
Thurston is a town of 1,253 people in Steuben County, New York. The median home is worth $138,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 81% of New York towns, quieter than 76% of New York towns, easier by car than 70% of New York towns.
How Thurston 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 Thurston is worth $138,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $73,409, which is more affordable than 88% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 92.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thurston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $73,409 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.6% | — |
Who lives in Thurston
| People | Thurston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Thurston
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thurston since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 27, 2011 about 4.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 7, 1997.
Severe weather in Steuben County since 1996
Steuben County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Steuben County
Steuben County had 34,564 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,111 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Thurston itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Thurston
- Campbell, NY4.4 mi · 659 people · home $99,900
- Savona, NY4.9 mi · 672 people · home $100,000
- Campbell, NY5.8 mi · 3,160 people · home $141,300
- Addison, NY6.8 mi · 2,397 people · home $99,300
- Bath, NY7.0 mi · 11,424 people · home $106,400
- Cameron, NY7.3 mi · 899 people · home $115,800
- Rathbone, NY7.4 mi · 1,093 people · home $121,600
- Coopers Plains, NY7.9 mi · 609 people · home $223,100
Thurston questions
Is Thurston, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thurston scores better for retirees than 13% of New York towns and quieter than 76%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.7).
How much does a house cost in Thurston?
The median owner-occupied home in Thurston is valued at $138,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,409, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Thurston?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 48.2 inches of snow.
Does Thurston get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thurston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 27, 2011. 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)