The Town FilesSaranac, New York
Town in Clinton County · population 3,852 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,200
- Household income
- $82,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 107 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 39.3
Saranac is a town of 3,852 people in Clinton County, New York. The median home is worth $173,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 95% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of New York towns, easier by car than 88% of New York towns.
How Saranac 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 Saranac is worth $173,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $82,500, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $969 a month. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Saranac | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $969 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $82,500 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Saranac
| People | Saranac | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Saranac
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 8.5°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 107.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Saranac since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on July 4, 2012.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 19 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 |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| July 12, 2013 | Flood | DR-4129: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 32,264 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,550 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Saranac itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Saranac
3 public schools with 1,176 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARANAC HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 440 | 11.0 |
| SARANAC MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 370 | 11.2 |
| SARANAC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 366 | 12.6 |
Towns near Saranac
- Dannemora, NY6.4 mi · 3,287 people · home $134,400
- Dannemora, NY7.3 mi · 4,037 people · home $134,600
- Schuyler Falls, NY11.1 mi · 4,843 people · home $201,600
- Peru, NY13.1 mi · 6,772 people · home $203,200
- Altona, NY14.6 mi · 2,666 people · home $151,400
- Plattsburgh, NY14.7 mi · 11,886 people · home $179,900
- Au Sable, NY17.1 mi · 3,183 people · home $133,000
- Plattsburgh, NY17.5 mi · 19,841 people · home $195,900
Saranac questions
Is Saranac, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Saranac scores better for retirees than 43% of New York towns and quieter than 95%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Saranac?
The median owner-occupied home in Saranac is valued at $173,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,500, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $969 a month.
What is the weather like in Saranac?
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 8.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 107.1 inches of snow.
Does Saranac get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Saranac in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)