RANK #205 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 45 NY · POP 59,757
1YR FORECAST: +2.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
Herkimer County, located in central New York State, is known for its "Herkimer diamonds," which are unique quartz crystals found in the area. The county sits northwest of Albany and east of Syracuse, with the northern part extending into the Adirondack Park. Commuting within the county is primarily by car, with an average commute time of 25.7 minutes. Bus services are available for longer distances, including routes to New York City. The community offers a blend of small-town warmth and access to outdoor recreation, including hiking trails, lakes, and the historic Erie Canal.
Life in Herkimer County offers affordability and a focus on community. The housing market is generally more accessible than in larger urban areas, appealing to young families, retirees, and remote workers seeking more space. Local school districts, such as Herkimer Central School District and Central Valley Central School District, serve the area. The economy is seeing efforts towards diversification, with recent state grants supporting the redevelopment of the former Remington Arms factory site in Ilion to attract new manufacturers and high-tech employers.
Herkimer County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.3% matches 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 10.6x — 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 79/100, Herkimer County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +2.3%, and median household income stands at $68,515 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NY.
By national standards, Herkimer County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $147,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.46 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $823/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Herkimer County are hiring — job growth of +2.3% — but the population is close to flat (-0.3% YoY). Home values moved +5.3% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.54% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Herkimer County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.3% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Herkimer County is now valued at $147,700. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.