The Town FilesBallston, New York
Town in Saratoga County · population 11,831 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $373,200
- Household income
- $116,161
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.6
Ballston is a town of 11,831 people in Saratoga County, New York. The median home is worth $373,200, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 89% of New York towns, more upscale than 86% of New York towns, hipper than 72% of New York towns.
How Ballston ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ballston is worth $373,200, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $116,161, which is more affordable than 40% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,688 a month. 77.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ballston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $373,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,688 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $116,161 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ballston
| People | Ballston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 19.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Ballston
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ballston since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1998 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 29, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 22, 2008.
Severe weather in Saratoga County since 1996
Saratoga County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Saratoga County
Saratoga County had 92,800 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,685 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Ballston itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Ballston
2 public schools with 1,438 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 953 | 10.4 |
| FRANCIS L STEVENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 485 | 12.1 |
Towns near Ballston
- Ballston Spa, NY4.1 mi · 5,111 people · home $308,200
- Country Knolls, NY5.0 mi · 5,349 people · home $383,700
- Charlton, NY5.3 mi · 4,328 people · home $340,200
- Malta, NY5.4 mi · 17,130 people · home $365,300
- Milton, NY6.2 mi · 4,663 people · home $354,700
- East Glenville, NY6.4 mi · 11,896 people · home $296,200
- Glenville, NY6.7 mi · 29,326 people · home $257,400
- Milton, NY6.8 mi · 18,800 people · home $311,500
Ballston questions
Is Ballston, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ballston scores better for retirees than 56% of New York towns and quieter than 36%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Ballston?
The median owner-occupied home in Ballston is valued at $373,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,161, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,688 a month.
What is the weather like in Ballston?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 63.5 inches of snow.
Does Ballston get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ballston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)