RANK #244 / 1001 NAT · #19 / 45 NY · POP 52,487
1YR FORECAST: +4.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +32%
Fulton County, New York, is often recognized for its "Land of 44 Lakes" designation, with Great Sacandaga Lake being a prominent feature, offering extensive outdoor recreation. Located in east-central New York, northwest of Albany, the county sits in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, with nearly 60% of its area within the Adirondack Park. This provides a backdrop for activities like hiking, fishing, boating, and winter sports. The county seat, Johnstown, and the most populous city, Gloversville, were historically known as the "Glove Cities" due to their past as a major center for leather tanning and glove manufacturing. Commute times within the county are generally short, and Albany is approximately 40 minutes away.
Life in Fulton County offers a small-town lifestyle with a reasonable cost of living. The community has a diversified economy, with healthcare being the largest industry, alongside a manufacturing base. Educational opportunities include several public school districts, such as Broadalbin-Perth and Johnstown, and Fulton-Montgomery Community College. Recent economic developments show investment flowing into sectors like renewable energy and infrastructure, with efforts to attract new businesses and expand tourism. The county also focuses on revitalizing its downtown areas in Gloversville and Johnstown, aiming to create walkable neighborhoods with diverse housing and retail options.
Fulton County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +6.2% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Renewable Energy Portfolio (Wind and Solar Farms)
Wesson Group
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Tryon Technology Park Infrastructure Investment
Fulton County Industrial Development Agency (IDA)
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Hales Mills Development Area Infrastructure & Mixed-Use
Fulton County/Local Developers
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Vail Mills Development Area Mixed-Use
Fulton County/Local Developers
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 76/100, Fulton County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $66,533 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NY.
By national standards, Fulton County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $163,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.41 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $912/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Fulton County is losing population (-0.6% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (+0.5% employment change). Home values are +6.2% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.01% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Fulton County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Fulton County is now valued at $163,100. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.