The Town FilesOwego, New York
Village in Tioga County · population 3,654 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,300
- Household income
- $60,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 37.0
Owego is a village of 3,654 people in Tioga County, New York. The median home is worth $147,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 98% of New York towns, better for cycling than 98% of New York towns, more walkable than 85% 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 $147,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $60,139, which is more affordable than 67% of New York towns. Median rent is $901 a month. 49.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Owego | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $901 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $60,139 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 49.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Owego
| People | Owego | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Owego
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 36.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owego since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 4, 2011.
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 2.9%.
Public schools in Owego
3 public schools with 1,571 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OWEGO FREE ACADEMY | 9-12 | 614 | 13.1 |
| OWEGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 496 | 14.2 |
| OWEGO-APALACHIN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 461 | 12.8 |
Towns near Owego
- Owego, NY3.7 mi · 18,777 people · home $187,800
- Tioga, NY5.5 mi · 4,440 people · home $125,300
- Apalachin, NY6.1 mi · 2,632 people · home $179,900
- Candor, NY8.6 mi · 5,149 people · home $135,100
- Endicott, NY10.2 mi · 13,667 people · home $121,800
- Newark Valley, NY10.3 mi · 3,642 people · home $138,600
- Union, NY11.9 mi · 56,138 people · home $149,900
- Barton, NY11.9 mi · 8,609 people · home $141,000
Owego questions
Is Owego, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Owego scores better for retirees than 54% of New York towns and quieter than 13%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Owego?
The median owner-occupied home in Owego is valued at $147,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,139, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $901 a month.
What is the weather like in Owego?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49.1 inches of snow.
Does Owego get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owego since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. 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)