City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Oswego, NY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Oswego - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

17,028
Residents
$53,286
Median income
$114,600
Median home
$1,392
Median rent (state)

Oswego - the verdict

Oswego ranks in the 25th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

25th
percentile, household income
15th
percentile, home value
54th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Oswego, NY

Oswego is a small town in New York, home to 17,028 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Oswego households earn a median of $53,286 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.2%. Typical homes in Oswego are valued around $114,600, and the median resident age is 35.6 years. 28.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 56.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 27 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 53% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 48.7°F with 43.1 inches of precipitation per year and 140.1 inches of snowfall.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,392 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New York run around $285, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Oswego workers runs 16.9 minutes, with 73.0% driving alone and 8.0% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 67.6 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

17,028 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$53,286 /yr

Poverty 14.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Oswego compare to other US cities?

Where Oswego sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 15% pricier than other cities
Median rent 54% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Oswego against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New York only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New York-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Oswego toward the bottom of New York's cities

Among the 1,202 New York cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Oswego ranks #1,042 - the 13th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Oswego only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,037 of 1,205
14th percentile in New York
Median Gross Rent
#728 of 1,256
38th percentile in New York
Median Home Value
#1,042 of 1,202
13th percentile in New York
Poverty Rate
#194 of 1,246
84th percentile in New York
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#729 of 1,254
42nd percentile in New York

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New York only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

25thIncome percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Oswego's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$114,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 85% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Oswego $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Oswego, NY Oswego, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Oswego, NY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Oswego, NY median $53,286/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Oswego, NY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Oswego, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
17,028
Median Income
$53,286
Median Home Value
$114,600
Median Age
35.6
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Labor force participation
56.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
48.7°F
Annual Precipitation
43.1"
Annual Snowfall
140.1"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
16,800 residents16,900 residents17,000 residents17,100 residents17,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 16,910 residents 17,024 residents ▲ +0.7%
Oswego's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
27
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
27
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 57
2020 150
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 27

Permit volume decreased 53% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
16.9 minutes
Drive Alone
73.0%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
2.0%
Walk
7.1%
Work from Home
8.0%
Other
0.9%

Based on 7,711 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New York state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Oswego sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,392/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
67.6 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Massapequa Park
16,985 people
Hampton Bays
17,138 people
Islip
17,224 people
Bethpage
17,334 people
Farmingville
16,605 people
Cortland
17,465 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Oswego's 17,028 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Huntington, IN
17,026 people
Bristol, VA
17,024 people
Groves, TX
17,021 people
Safety Harbor, FL
17,040 people
Aberdeen, WA
17,040 people
Abington, MA
17,008 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Oswego's $53,286 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Granger, WA
$53,287 median income
Barre, VT
$53,288 median income
Camden, SC
$53,289 median income
Gouldtown, NJ
$53,281 median income
Owensboro, KY
$53,295 median income
Redbird Smith, OK
$53,295 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Oswego, NY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Oswego, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.6% White 90.8% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 5.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Oswego compares to nearby New York cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Oswego (this city) 17,028 $53,286
Massapequa Park 16,985 $170,470
Hampton Bays 17,138 $129,080
Islip 17,224 $122,596
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Oswego, NY?

What is the population of Oswego, NY? +

The population of Oswego, NY stands at 17,028 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Oswego, NY? +

In Oswego, the typical household earns $53,286 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Oswego? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Oswego; the closest available measure is the New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Oswego, NY? +

A typical home in Oswego is worth $114,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Oswego? +

Climate normals put Oswego's yearly average temperature at 48.7°F, 43.1 inches of precipitation, and 140.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.