The Town FilesMassena, New York
Village in St. Lawrence County · population 10,151 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,400
- Household income
- $51,458
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.6
Massena is a village of 10,151 people in St. Lawrence County, New York. The median home is worth $94,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of New York towns.
How Massena 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 Massena is worth $94,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $51,458, which is more affordable than 91% of New York towns. Median rent is $722 a month. 55.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Massena | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,400 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $722 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $51,458 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Massena
| People | Massena | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Massena
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 5.9°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Massena since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 31, 1985 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1985.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on October 1, 2019.
Severe weather in St. Lawrence County since 1996
St. Lawrence County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 29, 2024 | Flood | DR-4814: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County had 34,764 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,502 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Massena itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Massena
5 public schools with 2,411 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MASSENA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 4-12 | 797 | 15.0 |
| MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 418 | 13.1 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 416 | 12.6 |
| NIGHTENGALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 400 | 13.3 |
| J WILLIAM LEARY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 380 | 10.6 |
Towns near Massena
- Massena, NY3.7 mi · 12,433 people · home $106,400
- Louisville, NY6.0 mi · 3,050 people · home $197,800
- Norfolk, NY6.6 mi · 4,453 people · home $105,800
- Brasher, NY8.8 mi · 2,627 people · home $124,300
- Akwesasne, NY11.4 mi · 4,527 people · home $177,800
- Stockholm, NY12.8 mi · 3,816 people · home $164,400
- Moira, NY17.7 mi · 2,916 people · home $92,600
- Potsdam, NY18.4 mi · 8,312 people · home $146,400
Massena questions
Is Massena, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Massena scores better for retirees than 55% of New York towns and quieter than 45%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Massena?
The median owner-occupied home in Massena is valued at $94,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,458, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $722 a month.
What is the weather like in Massena?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 5.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 75.2 inches of snow.
Does Massena get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Massena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 31, 1985. 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)