Town · New York

Town of Colton, New York

Colton (town), town, in St. Lawrence County, New York. Colton (town) had 1,483 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,530 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,395 (±202). GEOID 3608917409.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,483

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,530 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,395 ±202

Median household income

$69,156

±$6,809 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974

Median home value

$164,300

±$12,845 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800

Median gross rent

$475

±$261 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621

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

Colton (town) is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York. It covers 241.7 square miles of land, 6 residents per square mile in 2020.

One place lies inside the Town of Colton: Colton (CDP, 348 in 2020).

Colton (town) is in the Massena-Ogdensburg, NY micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Colton (town) (marked with a dot) in St. Lawrence 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 Colton (town), and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,483 people lived in Colton (town) on July 1, 2025, down 2.7% since 2020, a steeper fall than New York's (−1.0%). The 2020 Census counted 1,530 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,395 (±202).

  • July 2020→2021 −1 (1,521)
  • 2021→2022 −15 (1,506)
  • 2022→2023 −8 (1,498)
  • 2023→2024 −7 (1,491)
  • 2024→2025 −8 (1,483)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureColton (town)St. Lawrence CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Total population1,395±202107,22619,852,366no clear change
Households633±9441,6667,722,646no clear change
Average household size2.20±0.162.322.49no clear change
Housing units1,107±11751,9708,585,241−296

Colton (town)'s population since 2000

From 1,453 in 2000 to 1,483 in 2025: up 2.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Colton (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 1,453
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,445
  • 2010 Census 1,451
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,437
  • 2020 Census 1,530
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,483

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 Colton (town)?

The median resident of Colton (town) is 50.5 years old; 16.7% are under 18 and 29.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.7%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureColton (town)St. Lawrence CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median age50.5±7.639.339.8no clear change
Under 18 years16.7%±4.4 pts19.9%20.5%–
65 years and over29.9%±7.0 pts18.8%17.9%–
Male54.1%±4.1 pts51.2%48.8%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.3%±0.5 pts2.5%19.8%–
White alone, not Hispanic96.8%±2.1 pts91.2%52.8%−2.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±3.0 pts1.9%13.4%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±3.0 pts1.1%9.0%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.2%±0.3 pts0.4%0.2%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±3.0 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic2.7%±2.0 pts2.6%3.8%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±3.0 pts0.2%1.0%–
Born outside the United States2.2%±1.3 pts3.7%22.8%no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)3.1%±2.1 pts6.3%30.9%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)7.6%±2.9 pts6.7%3.7%–
With a disability15.3%±4.6 pts17.7%12.6%–
No health insurance coverage1.0%±1.0 pts6.0%5.1%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)94.3%±3.8 pts89.9%88.0%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)33.8%±7.1 pts25.3%40.2%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)15.4%±4.2 pts12.3%17.9%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier93.3%±2.8 pts89.1%90.1%–
Moved from another state in the past year2.0%±1.8 pts1.2%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 Colton (town) earn?

Half of Colton (town)'s 633 households earn less than $69,156 a year (±$6,809), against $62,850 in St. Lawrence County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $81,191 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.3% 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
MeasureColton (town)St. Lawrence CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$69,156±$6,809$62,850$85,974no clear change
Mean household income$80,398±$10,391$82,664$128,247–
Per capita income$37,092±$4,790$33,177$50,712no clear change
People below the poverty line13.3%±6.2 pts16.9%14.0%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line11.1%±9.2 pts20.9%18.3%–
Households receiving SNAP7.3%±3.7 pts15.5%15.6%–
Households with a computer87.0%±6.2 pts91.3%94.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription77.3%±9.3 pts86.8%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 Colton (town)?

Owners occupy 91.8% of Colton (town)'s occupied homes and renters 8.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $164,300 by its owner (±$12,845). The median renter pays $475 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureColton (town)St. Lawrence CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$164,300±$12,845$121,900$423,800no clear change
Median gross rent$475±$261$818$1,621−$342
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent0.0%±51.1 pts40.7%43.1%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,349±$316$1,330$2,555–
Owner-occupied homes91.8%±5.0 pts71.9%54.3%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes8.2%±5.0 pts28.1%45.7%–
Housing units1,107±11751,9708,585,241−296
Homeowner vacancy rate3.6%±3.5 pts1.3%1.1%–
Rental vacancy rate16.1%±23.4 pts3.9%3.8%–
Single-family detached homes91.3%±4.0 pts71.8%41.2%–
Mobile homes4.4%±2.7 pts10.0%2.1%–
Built 2020 or later0.7%±0.7 pts0.8%0.8%–
Built 2010 to 20199.2%±4.1 pts5.4%5.3%–
Built 1939 or earlier25.3%±5.9 pts30.0%30.3%–
Households with no vehicle3.0%±2.5 pts10.1%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 Colton (town) building?

Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Colton (town) in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 3.4 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.

  • 2019 2 units
  • 2020 2 units
  • 2021 2 units
  • 2022 2 units
  • 2023 4 units
  • 2024 3 units
  • 2025 5 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 Colton (town) work and get to work?

74.4% of Colton (town)'s workers drive alone and 11.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.6 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureColton (town)St. Lawrence CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)53.1%±7.3 pts53.3%62.7%–
Unemployment rate0.9%±1.2 pts5.3%6.4%–
Drove alone to work74.4%±8.5 pts74.8%48.8%–
Carpooled8.5%±3.8 pts9.2%6.3%–
Public transportation0.0%±6.6 pts0.3%21.6%–
Walked1.6%±2.8 pts6.7%5.6%–
Worked from home11.1%±5.5 pts7.3%14.9%+6.5 pts
Mean travel time to work27.6 min±4.821.0 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 Colton (town)?

No census tract lies mostly in Colton (town); 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Colton (town), ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Colton (town)
Tract 4923.01St. Lawrence County2,862 $71,444 $148,60044%
Tract 4930St. Lawrence County1,053 $68,553 $142,90032%

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 Colton (town)) · Census block assignment files

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

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Colton (town) is the 6,028th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 691st-most populous of 924 in New York.

Colton (town) ranks 1,147th of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Colton (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 estimate691st924
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)987th1,225
Residents per square mile1,654th1,657
Median household income1,147th1,623
Per capita income1,123rd1,653
Median home value1,190th1,637
Median gross rent1,514th1,515
Poverty rate423rd1,331
Bachelor's degree or higher768th1,640
Median age239th1,654
Owner-occupied share195th1,639
Work from home803rd1,350
Travel time to work681st1,652

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

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

19 of the 57 figures for Colton (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 Colton (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.