The Town FilesUlster, New York
Town in Ulster County · population 12,660 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $301,100
- Household income
- $79,769
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 83 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 45.8
Ulster is a town of 12,660 people in Ulster County, New York. The median home is worth $301,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of New York towns, better for cycling than 75% of New York towns.
How Ulster 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 Ulster is worth $301,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $79,769, which is more affordable than 29% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,351 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ulster | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $301,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,351 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $79,769 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Ulster
| People | Ulster | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Ulster
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 83.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ulster since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 13, 2022 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 8, 2011.
Severe weather in Ulster County since 1996
Ulster County has been included in 37 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 Ulster County
Ulster County had 59,330 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,154 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Ulster itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Ulster
- Lincoln Park, NY0.9 mi · 2,545 people · home $272,600
- Lake Katrine, NY1.2 mi · 2,522 people · home $298,000
- Kingston, NY2.9 mi · 24,069 people · home $315,500
- Port Ewen, NY4.8 mi · 3,678 people · home $284,100
- Hurley, NY5.1 mi · 3,346 people · home $357,800
- Rhinebeck, NY5.7 mi · 2,697 people · home $492,600
- Rhinebeck, NY6.1 mi · 7,596 people · home $521,800
- Hurley, NY6.1 mi · 6,178 people · home $398,900
Ulster questions
Is Ulster, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ulster scores better for retirees than 57% of New York towns and quieter than 50%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Ulster?
The median owner-occupied home in Ulster is valued at $301,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,769, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,351 a month.
What is the weather like in Ulster?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 83.1 inches of snow.
Does Ulster get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ulster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 13, 2022. 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)