The Town FilesVan Etten, New York
Town in Chemung County · population 1,539 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,500
- Household income
- $61,620
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 41.7
Van Etten is a town of 1,539 people in Chemung County, New York. The median home is worth $146,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 78% of New York towns.
How Van Etten 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 Van Etten is worth $146,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $61,620, which is more affordable than 67% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,071 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Etten | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,071 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $61,620 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Van Etten
| People | Van Etten | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Van Etten
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Etten since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 2, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 3, 2012.
Severe weather in Chemung County since 1996
Chemung County has been included in 19 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 |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 13, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4031: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Chemung County
Chemung County had 33,739 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,216 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Van Etten itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Van Etten
1 public school with 331 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPENCER-VAN ETTEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 331 | 11.4 |
Towns near Van Etten
- Van Etten, NY2.9 mi · 601 people · home $127,500
- Spencer, NY4.5 mi · 719 people · home $154,300
- Spencer, NY5.7 mi · 2,968 people · home $174,000
- Erin, NY5.9 mi · 1,806 people · home $133,400
- Cayuta, NY6.0 mi · 508 people · home $138,600
- Newfield, NY7.3 mi · 5,126 people · home $171,300
- Newfield, NY8.6 mi · 725 people · home $151,500
- Danby, NY8.7 mi · 3,421 people · home $291,800
Van Etten questions
Is Van Etten, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Etten scores better for retirees than 40% of New York towns and quieter than 78%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Van Etten?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Etten is valued at $146,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,620, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,071 a month.
What is the weather like in Van Etten?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 52.1 inches of snow.
Does Van Etten get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Etten since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 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)