The Town FilesWashington Heights, New York
Community in Orange County · population 2,205 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $366,700
- Household income
- $81,686
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 34.6
Washington Heights is a community of 2,205 people in Orange County, New York. The median home is worth $366,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better transit than 96% of New York towns, more of a college town than 84% of New York towns, more vibrant than 76% of New York towns.
How Washington Heights 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 Washington Heights is worth $366,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $81,686, which is more affordable than 16% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,554 a month. 71.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington Heights | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $366,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,554 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $81,686 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington Heights
| People | Washington Heights | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 25.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Washington Heights
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington Heights 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 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 27, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 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 Washington Heights itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Washington Heights
- Wallkill, NY1.2 mi · 30,486 people · home $353,200
- Mechanicstown, NY2.1 mi · 8,065 people · home $344,200
- Middletown, NY2.1 mi · 30,345 people · home $308,600
- Scotchtown, NY2.4 mi · 10,578 people · home $344,300
- Bloomingburg, NY5.6 mi · 1,032 people · home $412,500
- Mount Hope, NY6.1 mi · 6,537 people · home $368,900
- Otisville, NY6.6 mi · 969 people · home $314,600
- Goshen, NY6.7 mi · 5,777 people · home $396,300
Washington Heights questions
Is Washington Heights, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington Heights scores better for retirees than 8% of New York towns and quieter than 1%. 7.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Washington Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington Heights is valued at $366,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,686, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $2,554 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington Heights?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 47.4 inches of snow.
Does Washington Heights get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington Heights 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)