The Town FilesWalden, New York
Village in Orange County · population 6,818 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $333,500
- Household income
- $87,487
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 37.0
Walden is a village of 6,818 people in Orange County, New York. The median home is worth $333,500, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of New York towns, hipper than 97% of New York towns, more walkable than 91% of New York towns.
How Walden 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 Walden is worth $333,500, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $87,487, which is more affordable than 29% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,625 a month. 59.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walden | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $333,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,625 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $87,487 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Walden
| People | Walden | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 35.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Walden
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 45.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walden since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 29, 1971 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| November 15, 2024 | Fire | FM-5547: Jennings Creek Fire |
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 155,524 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,619 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Walden itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Walden
1 public school with 424 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WALDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 424 | 10.6 |
Towns near Walden
- Montgomery, NY1.8 mi · 23,322 people · home $347,600
- Montgomery, NY3.7 mi · 3,834 people · home $361,300
- Orange Lake, NY4.9 mi · 9,770 people · home $362,100
- Maybrook, NY5.1 mi · 3,150 people · home $257,500
- Shawangunk, NY6.4 mi · 13,563 people · home $360,100
- Crawford, NY6.6 mi · 9,130 people · home $428,800
- Newburgh, NY6.8 mi · 31,985 people · home $375,700
- Gardnertown, NY6.9 mi · 4,542 people · home $311,700
Walden questions
Is Walden, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walden scores better for retirees than 5% of New York towns and quieter than 3%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Walden?
The median owner-occupied home in Walden is valued at $333,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,487, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,625 a month.
What is the weather like in Walden?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.4 inches of precipitation a year and 44.2 inches of snow.
Does Walden get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 29, 1971. 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)