The Town FilesPoughkeepsie, New York
City in Dutchess County · population 31,577 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $283,700
- Household income
- $60,741
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 38.1
Poughkeepsie is a city of 31,577 people in Dutchess County, New York. The median home is worth $283,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 99% of New York towns, more walkable than 97% of New York towns, more vibrant than 92% of New York towns.
How Poughkeepsie 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 Poughkeepsie is worth $283,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $60,741, which is more affordable than 14% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,400 a month. 38.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Poughkeepsie | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $283,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,400 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $60,741 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 38.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Poughkeepsie
| People | Poughkeepsie | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Poughkeepsie
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poughkeepsie since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 18, 2000 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2020.
Severe weather in Dutchess County since 1996
Dutchess County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dutchess County
Dutchess County had 112,897 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,950 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Poughkeepsie itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Public schools in Poughkeepsie
12 public schools with 5,386 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| POUGHKEEPSIE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,161 | 12.8 |
| POUGHKEEPSIE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 872 | 11.6 |
| ARTHUR S MAY SCHOOL | K-5 | 496 | 10.3 |
| MORSE YOUNG MAGNET SCHOOL | K-6 | 434 | 10.1 |
| G W KRIEGER SCHOOL | K-5 | 433 | 14.0 |
| OVERLOOK PRIMARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 383 | 13.2 |
| SMITH EARLY LEARNING CENTER | PK-1 | 308 | 17.1 |
| VIOLET AVENUE SCHOOL | K-5 | 306 | 10.9 |
| WARRING MAGNET ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | 1-5 | 294 | 11.8 |
| DUTCHESS BOCES | K-12 | 292 | 3.4 |
| GOV GEORGE CLINTON SCHOOL | K-5 | 255 | 12.8 |
| LITTLE WATER PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-2 | 152 | 25.3 |
Towns near Poughkeepsie
- Arlington, NY1.1 mi · 3,010 people · home $315,300
- Poughkeepsie, NY2.0 mi · 45,471 people · home $354,900
- Marist College, NY2.0 mi · 2,894 people · home —
- Fairview, NY2.6 mi · 5,475 people · home $283,500
- Spackenkill, NY2.8 mi · 4,223 people · home $440,500
- Highland, NY2.9 mi · 6,385 people · home $415,900
- Crown Heights, NY3.7 mi · 2,872 people · home $348,400
- Red Oaks Mill, NY3.9 mi · 3,810 people · home $364,300
Poughkeepsie questions
Is Poughkeepsie, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Poughkeepsie scores better for retirees than 4% of New York towns and quieter than 2%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Poughkeepsie?
The median owner-occupied home in Poughkeepsie is valued at $283,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,741, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,400 a month.
What is the weather like in Poughkeepsie?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 52.1 inches of snow.
Does Poughkeepsie get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poughkeepsie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 18, 2000. 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)