The Town FilesGerman Flatts, New York
Town in Herkimer County · population 12,263 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,800
- Household income
- $67,791
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 46.1
German Flatts is a town of 12,263 people in Herkimer County, New York. The median home is worth $119,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of New York towns, better for cycling than 85% of New York towns, more walkable than 84% of New York towns.
How German Flatts 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 German Flatts is worth $119,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $67,791, which is more affordable than 91% of New York towns. Median rent is $728 a month. 70.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | German Flatts | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $728 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $67,791 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in German Flatts
| People | German Flatts | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in German Flatts
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of German Flatts since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 28, 2011 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2009.
Severe weather in Herkimer County since 1996
Herkimer County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Herkimer County
Herkimer County had 15,519 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,384 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in German Flatts itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near German Flatts
- Herkimer, NY3.3 mi · 7,234 people · home $133,200
- Ilion, NY4.1 mi · 7,646 people · home $108,700
- Herkimer, NY5.6 mi · 9,566 people · home $136,300
- Little Falls, NY7.1 mi · 4,605 people · home $105,700
- Frankfort, NY9.4 mi · 7,011 people · home $155,200
- Manheim, NY10.0 mi · 3,082 people · home $118,500
- Schuyler, NY11.0 mi · 3,296 people · home $116,000
- Minden, NY14.2 mi · 4,166 people · home $90,500
German Flatts questions
Is German Flatts, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, German Flatts scores better for retirees than 28% of New York towns and quieter than 24%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in German Flatts?
The median owner-occupied home in German Flatts is valued at $119,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,791, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $728 a month.
What is the weather like in German Flatts?
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 85.5 inches of snow.
Does German Flatts get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of German Flatts since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 28, 2011. 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)