City · New York
Beacon, New York
Beacon, city, in Dutchess County, New York. Beacon had 14,931 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 13,769 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 14,834 (±29). GEOID 3605100.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
14,931
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 13,769 · ACS 2020-2024: 14,834 ±29
Median household income
$107,859
±$21,401 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$471,600
±$27,415 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$1,658
±$145 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
Where is Beacon and what county is it in?
Beacon is a city in Dutchess County, New York. It covers 4.7 square miles of land, 2,905 residents per square mile in 2020.
Beacon is in the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Beacon, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 14,931 people lived in Beacon on July 1, 2025, up 3.8% since 2020, while New York shrank 1.0%. The 2020 Census counted 13,769 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 14,834 (±29).
| Measure | Beacon | Dutchess County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 14,834 ±29 | 298,220 | +1,200 |
| Households | 6,507 ±336 | 116,275 | +1,248 |
| Average household size | 2.17 ±0.10 | 2.40 | −0.35 |
| Housing units | 6,753 ±376 | 123,169 | +692 |
Beacon's population since 2000
From 13,808 in 2000 to 14,931 in 2025: up 8.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Beacon as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Beacon?
The median resident of Beacon is 42.0 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 14.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 62.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 20.2%. 11.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Beacon | Dutchess County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 ±2.2 | 42.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.0% ±2.2 pts | 18.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.4% ±1.9 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Male | 50.1% ±2.5 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20.2% ±4.1 pts | 15.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 62.0% ±5.1 pts | 66.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.8% ±2.3 pts | 9.2% | −4.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.9% ±2.2 pts | 3.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±2.1 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.7% ±3.0 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.0% ±4.3 pts | 16.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.1% ±1.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| With a disability | 14.7% ±2.6 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.9% ±2.1 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.0% ±3.0 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 48.9% ±3.9 pts | 41.6% | +15.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 22.0% ±3.1 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.9% ±2.6 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±0.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Beacon earn?
Half of Beacon's 6,507 households earn less than $107,859 a year (±$21,401), against $99,478 in Dutchess County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $87,617 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Beacon | Dutchess County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $107,859 ±$21,401 | $99,478 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $134,759 ±$12,686 | $134,011 | – |
| Per capita income | $58,996 ±$5,295 | $53,683 | +$10,384 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.0% ±2.7 pts | 8.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.4% ±3.9 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.5% ±3.2 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.6% ±2.4 pts | 96.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.9% ±2.6 pts | 93.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Beacon?
Owners occupy 61.1% of Beacon's occupied homes and renters 38.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $471,600 by its owner (±$27,415). The median renter pays $1,658 a month including utilities, and 38.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Beacon | Dutchess County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $471,600 ±$27,415 | $400,600 | +$128,606 |
| Median gross rent | $1,658 ±$145 | $1,582 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.4% ±9.3 pts | 43.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,606 ±$173 | $2,597 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.1% ±4.3 pts | 69.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.9% ±4.3 pts | 30.8% | – |
| Housing units | 6,753 ±376 | 123,169 | +692 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.3% ±3.8 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 55.6% ±4.5 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.3% ±1.0 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 10.5% ±2.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 32.0% ±4.2 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.1% ±2.5 pts | 7.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Beacon building?
Builders took permits for 69 new housing units in Beacon in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 4.6 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Beacon work and get to work?
58.3% of Beacon's workers drive alone and 21.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 41.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.3%.
| Measure | Beacon | Dutchess County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.0% ±3.3 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% ±2.8 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 58.3% ±5.2 pts | 69.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.6% ±2.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 11.9% ±3.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Walked | 3.9% ±2.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.2% ±4.6 pts | 15.3% | +14.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 41.4 min ±3.4 | 31.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Beacon?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Beacon (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $74,953 (Tract 2102.01) to $120,561 (Tract 2101.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2101.01Dutchess County | 4,964 | $120,561 |
| Tract 2103.01Dutchess County | 4,782 | $113,931 |
| Tract 2102.01Dutchess County | 4,652 | $74,953 |
| Tract 6400.02Dutchess County | 1,491 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Beacon) · Census block assignment files
How does Beacon compare with other places in New York?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Beacon is the 2,409th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 58th-most populous of 594 in New York.
Beacon ranks 438th of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 58th | 594 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 67th | 1,225 |
| Residents per square mile | 296th | 1,657 |
| Median household income | 438th | 1,623 |
| Per capita income | 343rd | 1,653 |
| Median home value | 368th | 1,637 |
| Median gross rent | 393rd | 1,515 |
| Poverty rate | 734th | 1,331 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 371st | 1,640 |
| Median age | 999th | 1,654 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,382nd | 1,639 |
| Work from home | 187th | 1,350 |
| Travel time to work | 56th | 1,652 |
Beacon's figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Beacon with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Beacon?
9 of the 57 figures for Beacon on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Beacon are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Beacon.