RANK #336 / 1001 NAT · #24 / 45 NY · POP 107,226
1YR FORECAST: +2.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
St. Lawrence County, New York, stands out as the largest county by land area in New York State, excluding New York City, and is the fifth largest east of the Mississippi River. Located in the northern part of the state, it borders the St. Lawrence River and Canada, with its southeastern third extending into the Adirondack Park. Canton serves as the county seat, one of several notable towns alongside Potsdam, Ogdensburg, and Massena. The area offers extensive outdoor recreation, including fishing, hiking, biking, and snowmobiling, across its numerous rivers, lakes, and trails. Commutes within the county are typically under 20 minutes.
Life in St. Lawrence County offers a rural feel with access to higher education through institutions like Clarkson University, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Potsdam, and SUNY Canton. The cost of living is lower than the national average, and most residents own their homes. The economy is supported by a mix of sectors, including manufacturing, energy, and agriculture, particularly dairy farming. Recent economic developments include investments in renewable energy projects, such as solar facilities, and programs aimed at fostering local entrepreneurship and business development. Public sector employment, including the state prison system and educational institutions, also plays a significant role.
St. Lawrence County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.6% YoY, population -0.5%, wages +3.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.8x 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
New York State Artificial Intelligence Data Center
Undisclosed Developer (likely hyperscaler)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
St Lawrence Data and Agricultural Center
ZeroC Data Centers, LLC
|
$500M | Active In Queue |
|
Corning Canton Facility Expansion
Corning Incorporated
|
$315M | Planned |
|
Rich Road Solar Energy Center with Battery Storage
Rich Road Solar Energy Center, LLC
|
$260M | Planned |
|
Two Rivers Solar Project
Boralex LLC
|
$200M | Under Construction |
|
Gateway Solar Energy Center
Gateway Solar Energy Center, LLC
|
$180M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 66/100, St. Lawrence County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $62,850 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NY.
By national standards, St. Lawrence County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $121,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.52 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $818/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
St. Lawrence County is losing population (-0.5% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-0.2% employment change). Home values are +3.6% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.87% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Lawrence County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.