Town · New York

Town of Oswego, New York

Oswego (town), town, in Oswego County, New York. Oswego (town) had 8,505 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 7,914 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 8,369 (±24). GEOID 3607555585.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

8,505

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,914 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,369 ±24

Median household income

$78,083

±$14,171 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974

Median home value

$175,100

±$17,098 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800

Median gross rent

$1,091

±$110 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621

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

Oswego (town) is a town in Oswego County, New York. It covers 27.3 square miles of land, 290 residents per square mile in 2020.

One place lies inside the Town of Oswego: SUNY Oswego (CDP, 3,451 in 2020).

Oswego (town) is in the Syracuse, NY metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Oswego (town) is the same area as Census Tract 214.01 of Oswego County: the tract's figures are Oswego (town)'s own.

Oswego (town) (marked with a dot) in Oswego 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 Oswego (town), and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 8,505 people lived in Oswego (town) on July 1, 2025, up 7.5% since 2020, while New York shrank 1.0%. The 2020 Census counted 7,914 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 8,369 (±24).

  • July 2020→2021 +398 (8,309)
  • 2021→2022 +322 (8,631)
  • 2022→2023 −119 (8,512)
  • 2023→2024 −26 (8,486)
  • 2024→2025 +19 (8,505)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureOswego (town)Oswego CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Total population8,369±24117,95319,852,366+654
Households1,871±17447,2397,722,646+312
Average household size2.54±0.222.392.49no clear change
Housing units2,179±19754,8448,585,241+489

Oswego (town)'s population since 2000

From 7,287 in 2000 to 8,505 in 2025: up 16.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Oswego (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 7,287
  • 2005 (estimate) 7,908
  • 2010 Census 7,984
  • 2015 (estimate) 7,852
  • 2020 Census 7,914
  • 2025 (estimate) 8,505

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 Oswego (town)?

The median resident of Oswego (town) is 20.7 years old; 11.9% are under 18 and 11.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.6%. 6.5% 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.
MeasureOswego (town)Oswego CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median age20.7±0.540.939.8no clear change
Under 18 years11.9%±2.9 pts20.6%20.5%–
65 years and over11.8%±2.5 pts18.0%17.9%–
Male49.3%±2.5 pts50.3%48.8%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)9.6%±2.3 pts3.3%19.8%no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic76.0%±4.1 pts90.8%52.8%−6.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic6.5%±2.5 pts0.9%13.4%no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic3.2%±1.4 pts0.8%9.0%no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.1%±0.2 pts0.1%0.2%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.5 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic4.6%±1.6 pts3.6%3.8%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.1%±0.2 pts0.4%1.0%–
Born outside the United States6.5%±2.9 pts2.0%22.8%no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)14.2%±3.9 pts4.1%30.9%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)3.0%±1.0 pts8.0%3.7%–
With a disability13.5%±3.0 pts16.0%12.6%–
No health insurance coverage2.4%±1.2 pts4.2%5.1%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)88.1%±4.6 pts89.9%88.0%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)35.9%±5.1 pts21.6%40.2%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)16.5%±4.6 pts8.3%17.9%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier66.5%±6.7 pts87.0%90.1%–
Moved from another state in the past year2.3%±1.1 pts1.1%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 Oswego (town) earn?

Half of Oswego (town)'s 1,871 households earn less than $78,083 a year (±$14,171), against $69,183 in Oswego County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 the median was $101,926 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $23,843 after inflation. 18.7% 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
MeasureOswego (town)Oswego CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$78,083±$14,171$69,183$85,974−$23,843
Mean household income$108,835±$16,835$89,184$128,247–
Per capita income$27,808±$4,253$35,765$50,712no clear change
People below the poverty line18.7%±9.9 pts16.3%14.0%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line48.1%±27.2 pts24.0%18.3%–
Households receiving SNAP10.6%±5.2 pts16.0%15.6%–
Households with a computer98.7%±1.5 pts94.5%94.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription93.5%±3.9 pts90.5%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 Oswego (town)?

Owners occupy 83.6% of Oswego (town)'s occupied homes and renters 16.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $175,100 by its owner (±$17,098). The median renter pays $1,091 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureOswego (town)Oswego CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$175,100±$17,098$151,700$423,800no clear change
Median gross rent$1,091±$110$967$1,621no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent34.3%±24.8 pts42.2%43.1%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,683±$146$1,498$2,555–
Owner-occupied homes83.6%±6.9 pts73.4%54.3%−10.9 pts
Renter-occupied homes16.4%±6.9 pts26.6%45.7%–
Housing units2,179±19754,8448,585,241+489
Homeowner vacancy rate1.6%±2.6 pts1.0%1.1%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±11.8 pts4.8%3.8%–
Single-family detached homes75.3%±6.6 pts68.3%41.2%–
Mobile homes9.8%±4.1 pts12.8%2.1%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±1.9 pts0.9%0.8%–
Built 2010 to 20196.2%±4.5 pts4.9%5.3%–
Built 1939 or earlier16.8%±6.2 pts27.4%30.3%–
Households with no vehicle2.9%±1.7 pts8.4%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 Oswego (town) building?

Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Oswego (town) in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.

  • 2019 14 units
  • 2020 (11 months) 3 units
  • 2021 2 units
  • 2022 2 units
  • 2023 3 units
  • 2024 8 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 Oswego (town) work and get to work?

66.6% of Oswego (town)'s workers drive alone and 11.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 15.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureOswego (town)Oswego CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)49.2%±3.7 pts59.6%62.7%–
Unemployment rate15.3%±5.7 pts7.0%6.4%no clear change
Drove alone to work66.6%±5.4 pts78.4%48.8%–
Carpooled5.7%±3.1 pts8.0%6.3%–
Public transportation2.4%±1.9 pts0.6%21.6%–
Walked13.9%±3.9 pts2.9%5.6%–
Worked from home11.2%±4.5 pts8.3%14.9%+7.0 pts
Mean travel time to work18.8 min±2.625.1 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 Oswego (town)?

1 census tract lies mostly in Oswego (town) (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Oswego (town), ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Oswego (town)
Tract 214.01Oswego County8,369 $78,083 $175,100100%

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 Oswego (town)) · Census block assignment files

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

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Oswego (town) is the 1,463rd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 171st-most populous of 924 in New York.

Oswego (town) ranks 916th of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Oswego (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 estimate171st924
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)27th1,225
Residents per square mile969th1,657
Median household income916th1,623
Per capita income1,564th1,653
Median home value1,094th1,637
Median gross rent787th1,515
Poverty rate193rd1,331
Bachelor's degree or higher695th1,640
Median age1,630th1,654
Owner-occupied share589th1,639
Work from home792nd1,350
Travel time to work1,467th1,652

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

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

9 of the 57 figures for Oswego (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 Oswego (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.