The Town FilesWest Carthage, New York
Village in Jefferson County · population 1,780 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,100
- Household income
- $49,885
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 174 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 36.2
West Carthage is a village of 1,780 people in Jefferson County, New York. The median home is worth $192,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of New York towns, hipper than 86% of New York towns, easier by car than 72% of New York towns.
How West Carthage 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 West Carthage is worth $192,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $49,885, which is more affordable than 27% of New York towns. Median rent is $985 a month. 41.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Carthage | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $985 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $49,885 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 41.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Carthage
| People | West Carthage | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in West Carthage
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 173.6 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Carthage since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 30, 2026 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 30, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 40,308 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,545 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in West Carthage itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Towns near West Carthage
- Carthage, NY1.1 mi · 3,236 people · home $131,200
- Champion, NY4.2 mi · 4,562 people · home $198,900
- Denmark, NY4.8 mi · 2,626 people · home $193,600
- Great Bend, NY4.9 mi · 807 people · home $172,600
- Wilna, NY5.9 mi · 5,732 people · home $137,400
- Copenhagen, NY6.1 mi · 631 people · home $169,700
- Rutland, NY8.4 mi · 3,038 people · home $201,600
- Black River, NY9.0 mi · 1,232 people · home $228,200
West Carthage questions
Is West Carthage, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Carthage scores better for retirees than 47% of New York towns and quieter than 36%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in West Carthage?
The median owner-occupied home in West Carthage is valued at $192,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,885, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $985 a month.
What is the weather like in West Carthage?
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 173.6 inches of snow.
Does West Carthage get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Carthage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 30, 2026. 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)