The Town FilesZena, New York
Community in Ulster County · population 1,038 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $484,800
- Household income
- $154,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 57.5
Zena is a community of 1,038 people in Ulster County, New York. The median home is worth $484,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of New York towns, hipper than 99% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of New York towns.
How Zena 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 Zena is worth $484,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $154,250, which is more affordable than 43% of New York towns. 95.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zena | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $484,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $154,250 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.5% | — |
Who lives in Zena
| People | Zena | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.4% | — |
| Work from home | 24.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Zena
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 67.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zena since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 13, 2022 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 13, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 13, 2003.
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 Zena itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Zena
- West Hurley, NY1.6 mi · 1,917 people · home $437,100
- Woodstock, NY2.1 mi · 2,521 people · home $675,600
- Ruby, NY4.0 mi · 918 people · home $347,100
- Woodstock, NY4.7 mi · 6,287 people · home $604,700
- Hurley, NY4.9 mi · 6,178 people · home $398,900
- Ulster, NY5.5 mi · 12,660 people · home $301,100
- Lake Katrine, NY5.6 mi · 2,522 people · home $298,000
- Lincoln Park, NY6.1 mi · 2,545 people · home $272,600
Zena questions
Is Zena, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zena scores better for retirees than 100% of New York towns and quieter than 66%. 34.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.5).
How much does a house cost in Zena?
The median owner-occupied home in Zena is valued at $484,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $154,250, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Zena?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 67.7 inches of precipitation a year and 85.7 inches of snow.
Does Zena get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 13, 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)