Village · New York

Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid, village, in Essex County, New York. Lake Placid had 2,258 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,205 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,306 (±358). GEOID 3640761.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,258

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,205 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,306 ±358

Median household income

$41,612

±$6,360 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974

Median home value

$400,000

±$78,614 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800

Median gross rent

$1,102

±$93 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621

Where is Lake Placid and what county is it in?

Lake Placid is a village in Essex County, New York. It covers 1.4 square miles of land, 1,620 residents per square mile in 2020.

Lake Placid lies entirely within the Town of North Elba, a town with its own local government (2020 census blocks).

Lake Placid (marked with a dot) in Essex 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 Lake Placid, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,258 people lived in Lake Placid on July 1, 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, a smaller fall than New York's (−1.0%). The 2020 Census counted 2,205 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,306 (±358).

  • July 2020→2021 −8 (2,258)
  • 2021→2022 −41 (2,217)
  • 2022→2023 +45 (2,262)
  • 2023→2024 +22 (2,284)
  • 2024→2025 −26 (2,258)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Lake PlacidEssex CountyNew York Change since 2015-2019
Total population 2,306 ±358 36,973 19,852,366 no clear change
Households 1,488 ±245 16,342 7,722,646 +506
Average household size 1.54 ±0.14 2.12 2.49 −0.78
Housing units 2,161 ±285 25,484 8,585,241 no clear change

Lake Placid's population since 2000

From 2,638 in 2000 to 2,258 in 2025: down 14.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lake Placid 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 2,638
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,532
  • 2010 Census 2,521
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,431
  • 2020 Census 2,205
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,258

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 Lake Placid?

The median resident of Lake Placid is 42.0 years old; 13.7% are under 18 and 16.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 95.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.0%. 10.2% 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.
Measure Lake PlacidEssex CountyNew York Change since 2015-2019
Median age 42.0 ±11.0 49.9 39.8 no clear change
Under 18 years 13.7% ±4.6 pts 15.4% 20.5% –
65 years and over 16.7% ±5.4 pts 26.4% 17.9% –
Male 47.7% ±6.8 pts 51.6% 48.8% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.2% ±0.4 pts 2.9% 19.8% –
White alone, not Hispanic 95.3% ±4.1 pts 91.6% 52.8% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.8 pts 1.9% 13.4% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±0.8 pts 0.6% 9.0% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.8 pts 0.2% 0.2% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.8 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 2.0% ±2.0 pts 2.3% 3.8% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 1.9% ±2.9 pts 0.6% 1.0% –
Born outside the United States 10.2% ±5.8 pts 4.1% 22.8% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 12.8% ±6.3 pts 5.2% 30.9% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 6.1% ±3.4 pts 8.0% 3.7% –
With a disability 14.6% ±5.6 pts 17.7% 12.6% –
No health insurance coverage 6.7% ±5.1 pts 5.0% 5.1% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 95.7% ±4.0 pts 92.1% 88.0% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 42.8% ±9.0 pts 32.8% 40.2% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 16.2% ±5.3 pts 14.7% 17.9% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 73.6% ±7.9 pts 90.4% 90.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 4.4% ±4.6 pts 2.3% 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 Lake Placid earn?

Half of Lake Placid's 1,488 households earn less than $41,612 a year (±$6,360), against $71,661 in Essex County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 the median was $69,124 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $27,512 after inflation. 9.0% 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
Measure Lake PlacidEssex CountyNew York Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $41,612 ±$6,360 $71,661 $85,974 −$27,512
Mean household income $73,754 ±$12,570 $95,557 $128,247 –
Per capita income $46,841 ±$7,671 $42,694 $50,712 +$13,762
People below the poverty line 9.0% ±4.1 pts 11.2% 14.0% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 0.0% ±12.6 pts 13.8% 18.3% –
Households receiving SNAP 7.3% ±6.4 pts 10.5% 15.6% –
Households with a computer 95.8% ±4.7 pts 94.4% 94.7% –
Households with a broadband subscription 92.9% ±5.3 pts 91.9% 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 Lake Placid?

Owners occupy 46.2% of Lake Placid's occupied homes and renters 53.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $400,000 by its owner (±$78,614). The median renter pays $1,102 a month including utilities, and 61.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Lake PlacidEssex CountyNew York Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $400,000 ±$78,614 $211,900 $423,800 no clear change
Median gross rent $1,102 ±$93 $934 $1,621 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 61.7% ±16.2 pts 41.6% 43.1% +32.4 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,988 ±$752 $1,601 $2,555 –
Owner-occupied homes 46.2% ±9.8 pts 77.3% 54.3% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 53.8% ±9.8 pts 22.7% 45.7% –
Housing units 2,161 ±285 25,484 8,585,241 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 1.7% ±2.8 pts 1.2% 1.1% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±5.2 pts 7.8% 3.8% –
Single-family detached homes 48.7% ±8.7 pts 79.1% 41.2% –
Mobile homes 0.0% ±1.9 pts 5.9% 2.1% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±1.9 pts 0.4% 0.8% –
Built 2010 to 2019 2.6% ±2.3 pts 4.4% 5.3% –
Built 1939 or earlier 35.6% ±9.6 pts 29.9% 30.3% –
Households with no vehicle 19.3% ±7.9 pts 7.4% 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 Lake Placid building?

Builders took permits for 21 new housing units in Lake Placid in 2025 (21 in single-family houses), 9.3 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.

  • 2019 7 units
  • 2020 2 units
  • 2021 6 units
  • 2022 66 units
  • 2023 46 units
  • 2024 6 units
  • 2025 21 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 Lake Placid work and get to work?

50.6% of Lake Placid's workers drive alone and 21.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.7 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Lake PlacidEssex CountyNew York Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 70.7% ±7.1 pts 55.2% 62.7% –
Unemployment rate 1.1% ±1.8 pts 4.0% 6.4% –
Drove alone to work 50.6% ±9.4 pts 70.3% 48.8% –
Carpooled 10.4% ±5.8 pts 10.8% 6.3% –
Public transportation 5.1% ±6.7 pts 0.8% 21.6% –
Walked 11.5% ±8.7 pts 4.0% 5.6% –
Worked from home 21.3% ±7.6 pts 13.2% 14.9% –
Mean travel time to work 17.7 min ±8.0 22.7 min 32.6 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 Lake Placid?

1 census tract lies mostly in Lake Placid, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Lake Placid, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Lake Placid
Tract 9605.01Essex County2,186 $76,830 $419,00059%
Tract 9604.02Essex County1,062 $52,277 $460,90047%
Tract 9605.02Essex County3,290 $106,395 $540,2005%

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 Lake Placid) · Census block assignment files

How does Lake Placid compare with other places in New York?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lake Placid is the 7,251st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 281st-most populous of 594 in New York.

Lake Placid ranks 1,612th of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Lake Placid's rank in New York (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate281st594
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)442nd1,225
Residents per square mile513th1,657
Median household income1,612th1,623
Per capita income661st1,653
Median home value449th1,637
Median gross rent769th1,515
Poverty rate734th1,331
Bachelor's degree or higher504th1,640
Median age999th1,654
Owner-occupied share1,574th1,639
Work from home185th1,350
Travel time to work1,522nd1,652

Lake Placid's figures with every place in New York (CSV)

Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Lake Placid 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 Lake Placid?

19 of the 57 figures for Lake Placid 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 Lake Placid 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 Lake Placid.