The Town FilesWalker Valley, New York
Community in Ulster County · population 1,269 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $331,700
- Household income
- $119,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 55 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 34.9
Walker Valley is a community of 1,269 people in Ulster County, New York. The median home is worth $331,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 98% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of New York towns, more of a college town than 85% of New York towns.
How Walker Valley 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 Walker Valley is worth $331,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $119,625, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,620 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walker Valley | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $331,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,620 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $119,625 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Walker Valley
| People | Walker Valley | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 13.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Walker Valley
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.0 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walker Valley since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 26, 1986 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 1986.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 31, 1982.
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 Walker Valley itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Walker Valley
- Ellenville, NY4.3 mi · 4,167 people · home $218,200
- Pine Bush, NY4.5 mi · 1,751 people · home $318,200
- Shawangunk, NY5.5 mi · 13,563 people · home $360,100
- Watchtower, NY5.6 mi · 1,709 people · home —
- Crawford, NY5.7 mi · 9,130 people · home $428,800
- Bloomingburg, NY7.3 mi · 1,032 people · home $412,500
- Mamakating, NY7.5 mi · 12,655 people · home $246,800
- Wurtsboro, NY7.5 mi · 1,124 people · home $234,700
Walker Valley questions
Is Walker Valley, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walker Valley scores better for retirees than 25% of New York towns and quieter than 49%. 9.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Walker Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Walker Valley is valued at $331,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,625, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $2,620 a month.
What is the weather like in Walker Valley?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 55.0 inches of snow.
Does Walker Valley get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walker Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 26, 1986. 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)