RANK #34 / 1001 NAT · #1 / 45 NY · POP 117,953
1YR FORECAST: +4.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +40%
Oswego County, New York, distinguishes itself with its position on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario, offering residents access to extensive freshwater recreation and scenic views. The city of Oswego, the county seat, serves as a major port on the Great Lakes and is home to SUNY Oswego. Commutes within the county are generally short, with an average one-way time of 17 minutes in Oswego city. The county's landscape, featuring dense forests, rivers, and waterfalls, provides opportunities for fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, and boating. Public transit options, including Oswego County Public Transit (OPT) and connections to Centro bus services, facilitate travel throughout the area.
Life in Oswego County offers a blend of suburban and rural communities, appealing to families and individuals seeking a connection to the outdoors. The local economy is influenced by its energy production, with two nuclear power plants and multiple hydroelectric facilities located within the county. Recent economic developments include investments in advanced manufacturing and downtown revitalization projects in cities like Oswego and Fulton. These initiatives aim to strengthen the workforce and attract new businesses, contributing to job growth and infrastructure enhancements.
Oswego County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +6.7% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 8.6x — 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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Oswego County ranks #34 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 97/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.0% and a median household income of $69,183 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Oswego County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $151,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.46 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $967/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Oswego County are both close to flat — population +0.0% YoY and jobs +1.0%. Home values shifted +6.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.8% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Oswego County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.7% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Oswego County is now valued at $151,700. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.