RANK #142 / 996 · POP 59,678 · NY
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.5%
Otsego County, New York, is often recognized for Cooperstown, a village known as the unofficial birthplace of baseball and home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Located in central New York, west of Albany, the county offers a blend of rural landscapes and cultural attractions. Commuting options include Interstate 88 and various state routes, with bus services connecting communities like Oneonta and Cooperstown. The region's natural beauty, including Otsego Lake, provides opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling, and winter sports.
Life in Otsego County balances small-town community with access to educational and healthcare institutions. Residents often own their homes, and the area is home to both young professionals and retirees. The economy is supported by healthcare, with Bassett Medical Center being a major employer, and educational services, anchored by SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College. Recent economic developments include investments in tourism, agribusiness, and infrastructure, with a focus on improving local facilities and supporting manufacturing.
Above national median
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.6x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
45th Parallel Solar Project
RWE Renewables
|
$200M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Otsego County has a Boom Town Index score of 86/100, ranking #142 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.4% and a median household income of $65,778, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Otsego County is $166,500 with median rent at $927/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3951, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.4%. Home values changed -1.3% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 5.17% of Otsego County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.