Town · New York

Town of Carlton, New York

Carlton (town), town, in Orleans County, New York. Carlton (town) had 2,793 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,835 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,808 (±25). GEOID 3607312496.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,793

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,835 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,808 ±25

Median household income

$81,678

±$11,721 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974

Median home value

$158,800

±$12,635 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800

Median gross rent

$804

±$243 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621

Where is Carlton (town) and what county is it in?

Carlton (town) is a town in Orleans County, New York. It covers 43.6 square miles of land, 65 residents per square mile in 2020.

Carlton (town) is in the Rochester, NY metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Carlton (town) (marked with a dot) in Orleans County, New York. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Carlton (town), and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,793 people lived in Carlton (town) on July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, in line with New York (−1.0%). The 2020 Census counted 2,835 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,808 (±25).

  • July 2020→2021 +1 (2,821)
  • 2021→2022 −31 (2,790)
  • 2022→2023 −8 (2,782)
  • 2023→2024 +8 (2,790)
  • 2024→2025 +3 (2,793)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureCarlton (town)Orleans CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Total population2,808±2539,60819,852,366−62
Households1,115±10316,2207,722,646no clear change
Average household size2.40±0.202.292.49no clear change
Housing units1,748±19418,3268,585,241no clear change

Carlton (town)'s population since 2000

From 2,960 in 2000 to 2,793 in 2025: down 5.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Carlton (town) 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.

  • 2000 Census 2,960
  • 2005 (estimate) 3,007
  • 2010 Census 2,994
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,901
  • 2020 Census 2,835
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,793

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 Carlton (town)?

The median resident of Carlton (town) is 51.1 years old; 14.0% are under 18 and 20.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.0%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureCarlton (town)Orleans CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median age51.1±2.643.539.8no clear change
Under 18 years14.0%±4.0 pts18.8%20.5%–
65 years and over20.6%±4.4 pts19.9%17.9%–
Male46.7%±4.6 pts50.8%48.8%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)4.0%±4.8 pts5.5%19.8%–
White alone, not Hispanic88.9%±5.7 pts84.6%52.8%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic3.1%±3.8 pts4.9%13.4%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.5 pts0.8%9.0%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.5%±0.6 pts0.4%0.2%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.5 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic2.6%±1.8 pts3.5%3.8%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic1.0%±1.1 pts0.4%1.0%–
Born outside the United States3.8%±3.3 pts3.5%22.8%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)5.4%±5.1 pts7.3%30.9%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)6.9%±2.7 pts8.2%3.7%–
With a disability14.8%±4.5 pts16.0%12.6%–
No health insurance coverage3.8%±2.2 pts6.4%5.1%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)90.6%±4.3 pts86.0%88.0%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)28.8%±6.8 pts17.9%40.2%+10.4 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)10.8%±3.9 pts7.6%17.9%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier92.5%±4.7 pts92.2%90.1%–
Moved from another state in the past year2.1%±1.8 pts0.4%1.5%–

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 Carlton (town) earn?

Half of Carlton (town)'s 1,115 households earn less than $81,678 a year (±$11,721), against $65,969 in Orleans County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $81,306 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureCarlton (town)Orleans CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$81,678±$11,721$65,969$85,974no clear change
Mean household income$93,504±$10,823$84,064$128,247–
Per capita income$39,776±$4,816$35,307$50,712no clear change
People below the poverty line11.7%±6.0 pts12.7%14.0%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line18.8%±20.0 pts16.3%18.3%–
Households receiving SNAP10.8%±5.0 pts15.4%15.6%–
Households with a computer97.2%±2.0 pts91.1%94.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription90.4%±5.5 pts87.2%90.8%–

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 Carlton (town)?

Owners occupy 91.8% of Carlton (town)'s occupied homes and renters 8.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $158,800 by its owner (±$12,635). The median renter pays $804 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureCarlton (town)Orleans CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$158,800±$12,635$140,800$423,800no clear change
Median gross rent$804±$243$874$1,621−$752
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent21.7%±23.9 pts33.5%43.1%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,515±$173$1,469$2,555–
Owner-occupied homes91.8%±4.7 pts77.2%54.3%+12.6 pts
Renter-occupied homes8.2%±4.7 pts22.8%45.7%–
Housing units1,748±19418,3268,585,241no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±4.1 pts1.1%1.1%–
Rental vacancy rate29.5%±32.6 pts1.9%3.8%–
Single-family detached homes95.1%±3.3 pts72.8%41.2%–
Mobile homes0.9%±0.8 pts8.7%2.1%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±2.4 pts0.2%0.8%–
Built 2010 to 20195.0%±3.6 pts2.5%5.3%–
Built 1939 or earlier47.6%±8.9 pts43.3%30.3%–
Households with no vehicle0.0%±3.7 pts7.9%29.2%–

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 Carlton (town) building?

Builders took permits for 6 new housing units in Carlton (town) in 2025 (6 in single-family houses), 2.1 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.

  • 2019 0 units
  • 2020 12 units
  • 2021 5 units
  • 2022 7 units
  • 2023 6 units
  • 2024 5 units
  • 2025 6 units

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 Carlton (town) work and get to work?

71.9% of Carlton (town)'s workers drive alone and 10.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureCarlton (town)Orleans CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)64.2%±5.4 pts57.1%62.7%–
Unemployment rate5.3%±3.1 pts5.1%6.4%no clear change
Drove alone to work71.9%±11.1 pts74.8%48.8%–
Carpooled11.7%±9.3 pts8.8%6.3%–
Public transportation3.5%±5.9 pts0.6%21.6%–
Walked2.9%±6.3 pts2.9%5.6%–
Worked from home10.0%±6.2 pts10.5%14.9%no clear change
Mean travel time to work29.5 min±4.026.1 min32.6 minno 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 Carlton (town)?

1 census tract lies mostly in Carlton (town), and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Carlton (town), ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Carlton (town)
Tract 4013Orleans County4,572 $89,297 $187,40061%
Tract 4012Orleans County3,256 $82,083 $138,20036%

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 Carlton (town)) · Census block assignment files

How does Carlton (town) compare with other places in New York?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Carlton (town) is the 3,768th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 451st-most populous of 924 in New York.

Carlton (town) ranks 834th of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Carlton (town)'s rank in New York (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate451st924
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)649th1,225
Residents per square mile1,311th1,657
Median household income834th1,623
Per capita income966th1,653
Median home value1,235th1,637
Median gross rent1,305th1,515
Poverty rate521st1,331
Bachelor's degree or higher960th1,640
Median age213th1,654
Owner-occupied share195th1,639
Work from home916th1,350
Travel time to work544th1,652

Carlton (town)'s figures with every place in New York (CSV)

Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Carlton (town) 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 Carlton (town)?

21 of the 57 figures for Carlton (town) 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 Carlton (town) 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' school search.