RANK #208 / 996 · POP 117,445 · NY
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.0%
Jefferson County, New York, is defined by its position at the convergence of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, offering access to the Thousand Islands region. Watertown, the county seat, sits 72 miles north of Syracuse. The area is known for its natural scenery, with fifteen state parks, numerous state forests, and wildlife management areas providing opportunities for outdoor recreation like boating, hiking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Commuting within the county is common, with a large majority of residents working locally. The community offers a blend of small towns and natural landscapes.
Life in Jefferson County is shaped by its affordability and access to natural resources. Many families and young professionals reside here, with public schools generally performing above average. The economy is significantly influenced by Fort Drum, a major Army installation that employs over 36,900 soldiers, family members, and civilians. Agriculture, particularly dairy farming, also plays a substantial role, with recent investments highlighting its expanding economic impact. Additionally, the county is seeing growth in sectors like food processing and advanced manufacturing, with efforts to expand workforce training at institutions like Jefferson Community College.
Well below national median
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.1x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Hounsfield Wind Farm (Galloo Island)
Upstate NY Power Corporation
|
$280M | Proposed |
|
Tracy Solar Project
EDF Renewables North America
|
$119M | Planned |
|
Riverside Solar Project
AES Corporation
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Deer River Wind Farm
Atlantic Wind LLC (Avangrid Renewables)
|
$100M | Proposed |
|
Worth Wind Energy Project
WEB Renewable Energy USA LLC (WEB USA)
|
$70M | Proposed |
|
Jefferson County Public Transportation System
Jefferson County Board of Legislators
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Jefferson County has a Boom Town Index score of 79/100, ranking #208 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.2% and a median household income of $62,782, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Jefferson County is $169,600 with median rent at $1,143/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3702, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.2%. Home values changed +0.9% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.83% of Jefferson County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.