The Town FilesPalatine, New York
Town in Montgomery County · population 3,189 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,500
- Household income
- $69,722
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 53.1
Palatine is a town of 3,189 people in Montgomery County, New York. The median home is worth $142,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 92% of New York towns, easier by car than 91% of New York towns, hipper than 82% of New York towns.
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Cheapest Rent
- #4 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New York
- #16 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #16 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
- #21 in 25 Small Towns in New York With the Coolest Summers
- #24 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New York
How Palatine 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 Palatine is worth $142,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $69,722, which is more affordable than 84% of New York towns. Median rent is $633 a month. 73.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palatine | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $633 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $69,722 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Palatine
| People | Palatine | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Palatine
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palatine since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 10, 1989 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 19, 2007.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 19,149 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,762 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Palatine itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Palatine
- Mohawk, NY6.8 mi · 3,572 people · home $174,700
- Canajoharie, NY7.1 mi · 3,660 people · home $137,500
- Minden, NY8.2 mi · 4,166 people · home $90,500
- St. Johnsville, NY8.2 mi · 2,598 people · home $88,000
- Johnstown, NY9.0 mi · 8,204 people · home $157,800
- Johnstown, NY9.5 mi · 6,867 people · home $193,500
- Glen, NY10.0 mi · 2,536 people · home $198,800
- Gloversville, NY11.8 mi · 15,131 people · home $106,400
Palatine questions
Is Palatine, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palatine scores better for retirees than 76% of New York towns and quieter than 92%. 30.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.1).
How much does a house cost in Palatine?
The median owner-occupied home in Palatine is valued at $142,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,722, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $633 a month.
What is the weather like in Palatine?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 53.5 inches of snow.
Does Palatine get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palatine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 10, 1989. 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)