The Town FilesHamilton, New York
Village in Madison County · population 4,107 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $264,200
- Household income
- $66,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 77 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 20.4
Hamilton is a village of 4,107 people in Madison County, New York. The median home is worth $264,200, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of New York towns, hipper than 99% of New York towns, more of a college town than 99% of New York towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in New York
- #12 in The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New York
- #13 in The 25 Best College Small Towns in New York
- #14 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New York
- #35 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in America
- #50 in The 50 Best College Small Towns in America
How Hamilton 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 Hamilton is worth $264,200, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $66,750, which is more affordable than 25% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,245 a month. 46.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hamilton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,245 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $66,750 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 46.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.5% | — |
Who lives in Hamilton
| People | Hamilton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 20.4 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 7.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 1.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Hamilton
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.3°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 16, 2009 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 29, 2013.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 24 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 12, 2013 | Flood | DR-4129: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 20,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,324 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Hamilton itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Hamilton
2 public schools with 562 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAMILTON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 298 | 11.0 |
| HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 264 | 12.6 |
Towns near Hamilton
- Hamilton, NY4.1 mi · 6,379 people · home $240,800
- Madison, NY5.2 mi · 2,766 people · home $196,900
- Eaton, NY5.8 mi · 4,284 people · home $119,400
- Sherburne, NY10.0 mi · 3,973 people · home $149,300
- Vernon, NY16.5 mi · 8,318 people · home $202,100
- Cazenovia, NY16.6 mi · 2,767 people · home $295,200
- Kirkland, NY16.7 mi · 10,075 people · home $292,700
- Cazenovia, NY16.8 mi · 6,740 people · home $347,100
Hamilton questions
Is Hamilton, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hamilton scores better for retirees than 27% of New York towns and quieter than 13%. 6.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 20.4).
How much does a house cost in Hamilton?
The median owner-occupied home in Hamilton is valued at $264,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,750, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,245 a month.
What is the weather like in Hamilton?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 76.7 inches of snow.
Does Hamilton get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 16, 2009. 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)