Oneonta
RANK #579 / 996 NAT · #37 / 45 NY · POP 59,678
1YR FORECAST: +2.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
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.
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 →
| 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 scores 41/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#579). Median household income is $65,778 and job growth is running at +2.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Otsego County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $166,500, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.40 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $927/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Otsego County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.2% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.4% clip. Home values shifted -1.3% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.17% of Otsego County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.