The Town FilesOwego, New York
Town in Tioga County · population 18,777 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,800
- Household income
- $86,263
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 43.8
Owego is a town of 18,777 people in Tioga County, New York. The median home is worth $187,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of New York towns.
How Owego 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 Owego is worth $187,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $86,263, which is more affordable than 76% of New York towns. Median rent is $962 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Owego | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $962 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $86,263 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Owego
| People | Owego | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Owego
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owego 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 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 1, 2022.
Severe weather in Tioga County since 1996
Tioga County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| 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 |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Tioga County
Tioga County had 13,093 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,197 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Owego itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Owego
- Apalachin, NY2.5 mi · 2,632 people · home $179,900
- Owego, NY3.7 mi · 3,654 people · home $147,300
- Endicott, NY6.8 mi · 13,667 people · home $121,800
- Union, NY8.8 mi · 56,138 people · home $149,900
- Tioga, NY9.0 mi · 4,440 people · home $125,300
- Endwell, NY9.2 mi · 11,762 people · home $173,300
- Vestal, NY9.5 mi · 29,313 people · home $193,500
- Newark Valley, NY10.4 mi · 3,642 people · home $138,600
Owego questions
Is Owego, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Owego scores better for retirees than 68% of New York towns and quieter than 45%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Owego?
The median owner-occupied home in Owego is valued at $187,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,263, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $962 a month.
What is the weather like in Owego?
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 49.1 inches of snow.
Does Owego get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owego 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)