City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Potsdam, NY

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

8,507
Residents
$32,061
Median income
$144,200
Median home
$1,071
Median rent (state)

Potsdam - the verdict

Potsdam ranks in the 3rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

3rd
percentile, household income
25th
percentile, home value
26th
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: Potsdam, NY

Potsdam is a small town in New York, home to 8,507 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Potsdam brings in $32,061 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.4%. Home values in Potsdam run a median of $144,200, and the median resident age is 21.7 years. Educational attainment runs 48.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 45.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits).

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New York scores 107.9 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,071 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New York's average monthly utility costs around $285 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 77.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

8,507 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$32,061 /yr

Poverty 12.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Potsdam compare to other US cities?

Potsdam measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 25% pricier than other cities
Median rent 26% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Potsdam's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New York, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

3rdIncome percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Potsdam's home value compares nationally

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

$144,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 75% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Potsdam $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 - Potsdam, NY Potsdam, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Potsdam, 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 Potsdam, NY median $32,061/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%
Potsdam, 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 Potsdam, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 48.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.9%

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

Population
8,507
Median Income
$32,061
Median Home Value
$144,200
Median Age
21.7
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Labor force participation
45.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
48.7%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,800 residents8,000 residents8,200 residents8,400 residents8,600 residents8,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,493 residents 8,019 residents ▼ -5.6%
Potsdam's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 1
2021 0
2022 0
2023 1
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
50.9%
Carpool
9.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
28.1%
Work from Home
11.1%
Other
0.7%

Based on 3,571 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 Potsdam sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,071/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
77.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Malverne
8,496 people
Farmingdale
8,450 people
Hastings-on-Hudson
8,449 people
New Windsor
8,427 people
Wading River
8,393 people
South Lockport
8,660 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Potsdam's 8,507 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Beecher, MI
8,507 people
Hondo, TX
8,508 people
Minnetrista, MN
8,509 people
Lewistown, PA
8,505 people
Georgetown, SC
8,511 people
Murillo, TX
8,511 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Potsdam's $32,061 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cedartown, GA
$32,064 median income
Minor, AL
$32,065 median income
Twin Oaks, OK
$32,054 median income
Dovesville, SC
$32,072 median income
Kentwood, LA
$32,074 median income
Bradfordsville, KY
$32,045 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Potsdam, 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 Potsdam, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.2% 6.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.7% White 83.2% Black or African American 4.5% Asian 6.0% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 4.8% 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 Potsdam 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
Potsdam (this city) 8,507 $32,061
Malverne 8,496 $146,585
Farmingdale 8,450 $134,037
Hastings-on-Hudson 8,449 $181,528
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Potsdam, NY?

What is the population of Potsdam, NY? +

Potsdam, NY counts 8,507 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Potsdam runs $32,061, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Potsdam? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Potsdam; 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 Potsdam, NY? +

Homes in Potsdam carry a median value of $144,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.