The Town FilesWestport, New York
Town in Essex County · population 1,320 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $237,100
- Household income
- $71,146
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 52.7
Westport is a town of 1,320 people in Essex County, New York. The median home is worth $237,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of New York towns, hipper than 91% of New York towns, quieter than 84% of New York towns.
How Westport 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 Westport is worth $237,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $71,146, which is more affordable than 38% of New York towns. Median rent is $895 a month. 82.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Westport | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $237,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $895 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $71,146 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 28.3% | — |
Who lives in Westport
| People | Westport | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 13.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Westport
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 9.2°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westport since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 18, 2022 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on October 10, 2020.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 25 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 |
| August 29, 2024 | Flood | DR-4814: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 14,768 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,601 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Westport itself the ACS puts it at 13.1%.
Public schools in Westport
1 public school with 189 students, about 7.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE VIEW CAMPUS | PK-5 | 189 | 7.6 |
Towns near Westport
- Panton, VT6.5 mi · 646 people · home $438,000
- Mineville, NY7.3 mi · 1,327 people · home $110,900
- Elizabethtown, NY7.6 mi · 746 people · home $188,100
- Essex, NY8.0 mi · 621 people · home $277,800
- Ferrisburgh, VT8.4 mi · 2,646 people · home $422,700
- Vergennes, VT9.5 mi · 2,553 people · home $310,000
- Port Henry, NY9.6 mi · 1,150 people · home $174,100
- Moriah, NY9.9 mi · 4,716 people · home $138,200
Westport questions
Is Westport, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Westport scores better for retirees than 95% of New York towns and quieter than 84%. 30.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.7).
How much does a house cost in Westport?
The median owner-occupied home in Westport is valued at $237,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,146, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $895 a month.
What is the weather like in Westport?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 9.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 63.7 inches of snow.
Does Westport get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westport since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 18, 2022. 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)