Le Ray
RANK #177 / 996 NAT · #7 / 45 NY · POP 117,445
1YR FORECAST: +2.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +32%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 ranks #177 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 82/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.2% and a median household income of $62,782 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Jefferson County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $169,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,143/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Jefferson County are hiring — job growth of +1.2% — but the population is close to flat (-0.2% YoY). Home values moved +0.9% 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 2.83% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Jefferson County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.