The Town FilesWatkins Glen, New York
Village in Schuyler County · population 1,863 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,700
- Household income
- $49,632
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 54.1
Watkins Glen is a village of 1,863 people in Schuyler County, New York. The median home is worth $204,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of New York towns, better for retirees than 82% of New York towns, hipper than 70% of New York towns.
How Watkins Glen 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 Watkins Glen is worth $204,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $49,632, which is more affordable than 23% of New York towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 49.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watkins Glen | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $741 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $49,632 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 49.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.3% | — |
Who lives in Watkins Glen
| People | Watkins Glen | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 11.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Watkins Glen
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watkins Glen since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 30, 1955 about 4.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Schuyler County since 1996
Schuyler County has been included in 15 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 30, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3262: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Schuyler County
Schuyler County had 5,066 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,379 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Watkins Glen itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Watkins Glen
2 public schools with 891 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WATKINS GLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 477 | 11.6 |
| WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 414 | 10.9 |
Towns near Watkins Glen
- Montour Falls, NY2.4 mi · 1,635 people · home $123,900
- Montour, NY3.5 mi · 2,323 people · home $158,500
- Dix, NY3.6 mi · 3,757 people · home $165,000
- Reading, NY4.5 mi · 1,719 people · home $160,200
- Odessa, NY5.1 mi · 517 people · home $158,600
- Hector, NY6.8 mi · 4,895 people · home $218,700
- Catharine, NY7.4 mi · 1,651 people · home $144,900
- Orange, NY9.0 mi · 1,408 people · home $119,200
Watkins Glen questions
Is Watkins Glen, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watkins Glen scores better for retirees than 82% of New York towns and quieter than 56%. 33.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.1).
How much does a house cost in Watkins Glen?
The median owner-occupied home in Watkins Glen is valued at $204,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,632, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in Watkins Glen?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 51.9 inches of snow.
Does Watkins Glen get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watkins Glen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 30, 1955. 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)