The Town FilesYates, New York
Town in Orleans County · population 2,567 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,000
- Household income
- $87,337
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 40.9
Yates is a town of 2,567 people in Orleans County, New York. The median home is worth $141,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of New York towns, quieter than 85% of New York towns.
How Yates 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 Yates is worth $141,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $87,337, which is more affordable than 96% of New York towns. Median rent is $854 a month. 85.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Yates | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $854 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $87,337 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.3% | — |
Who lives in Yates
| People | Yates | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Yates
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.0 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Yates since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 29, 1986 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 29, 1986.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 10, 1985.
Severe weather in Orleans County since 1996
Orleans County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 22, 2014 | Snowstorm | DR-4204: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Orleans County
Orleans County had 11,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,202 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Yates itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Yates
- Ridgeway, NY5.4 mi · 6,598 people · home $149,900
- Somerset, NY8.0 mi · 2,597 people · home $167,200
- Medina, NY8.3 mi · 6,047 people · home $107,200
- Carlton, NY9.1 mi · 2,835 people · home $158,800
- Hartland, NY10.1 mi · 3,874 people · home $183,000
- Gaines, NY10.5 mi · 3,226 people · home $125,800
- Shelby, NY11.5 mi · 4,907 people · home $136,000
- Albion, NY11.9 mi · 5,637 people · home $82,300
Yates questions
Is Yates, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Yates scores better for retirees than 36% of New York towns and quieter than 85%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Yates?
The median owner-occupied home in Yates is valued at $141,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,337, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $854 a month.
What is the weather like in Yates?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 68.0 inches of snow.
Does Yates get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Yates since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 29, 1986. 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)