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Living in
Plattsburgh.
About
Life in Plattsburgh
If you're considering moving to Plattsburgh, understand that you're looking at a working city of about 20,000 people that functions as the North Country's main economic hub—not a quaint tourist getaway. The economy here is anchored by SUNY Plattsburgh (which pumps roughly $300 million into the regional economy annually), healthcare via C.V.P.H. Medical Center, manufacturing plants like ALSTOM Transportation and Norsk Titanium, and retail jobs at major employers like Walmart and Sam's Club.
Plattsburgh at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.7%
Foreign-Born
6.9%
Broadband Internet
87.7%
of households
Population Growth
-0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.9% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Plattsburgh: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Plattsburgh, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (14.3%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
13.2%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.4%
of households
Married Couples
26.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.84
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 36% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Plattsburgh
In Plattsburgh, rent runs 36% below the NY average, and home values are 54% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$5,392
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
37.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $253,894 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Plattsburgh
Unemployment in Clinton County, which includes Plattsburgh, is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Plattsburgh: Clinton County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Clinton County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Plattsburgh Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.6 min avg
How Plattsburgh residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Plattsburgh, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG)
Regional airport · few flights86k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 54% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Plattsburgh runs 54% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
152
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,839.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Plattsburgh City Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
68.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Clinton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Clinton County, which includes Plattsburgh, the most common type is winter weather, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Winter Weather | $117,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $228,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Winter Weather | $955,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Winter Storm | $149,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Winter Weather | $231,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Winter Weather | $107,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Winter Storm | $270,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Winter Storm | $150,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Clinton County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Chittenden County, VT (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 25 miles from Plattsburgh) is typically good — 320 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
320
per year
Moderate Days
41
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Chittenden County, VT (25 mi away)
Climate78°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Plattsburgh has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/33°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.0"
Annual Snowfall
50.1"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
145
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 10°F | 1.41" |
| Feb | 31°F | 11°F | 1.22" |
| Mar | 40°F | 21°F | 1.33" |
| Apr | 54°F | 33°F | 2.55" |
| May | 68°F | 44°F | 2.88" |
| Jun | 75°F | 53°F | 4.07" |
| Jul | 81°F | 59°F | 3.61" |
| Aug | 79°F | 57°F | 3.58" |
| Sep | 71°F | 49°F | 3.11" |
| Oct | 58°F | 38°F | 3.04" |
| Nov | 46°F | 29°F | 2.33" |
| Dec | 34°F | 19°F | 1.76" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
The University of Vermont Health Network - Champl
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education9.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh's student/teacher ratio is 9.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 40.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Plattsburgh
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Public · 4-year · 3,769 students · in-state tuition $9,035 · 65% graduate · median earnings $61,867 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park, 86 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park (86 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park
National Historical Park
86 mi awaySaint-Gaudens National Historical Park
National Historical Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh Public Library
19 Oak Street, Plattsburgh
Cities Near Plattsburgh
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Plattsburgh?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Plattsburgh FAQ
Is Plattsburgh, New York affordable?⌄
Plattsburgh's median rent is $1,030/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,630/year. Median home value is $195,900.
Is Plattsburgh, New York safe?⌄
Plattsburgh's violent crime rate was 152 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1839 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Plattsburgh, New York?⌄
Clinton County, which includes Plattsburgh, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Plattsburgh, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Plattsburgh is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,030/month and median household income is $57,630/year. The median home value is $195,900. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Plattsburgh, New York?⌄
The average commute in Plattsburgh is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from