Sign In Register

Potsdam, NY

Full City Profile · New York · Franklin County County

3.3 /5.0
B Good
8,507 Population 1,729/sq mi density
$32,061 Median Income $21,053 per capita
$144,200 Home Value $169,165 Zillow
$819 Median Rent 43.3% income on rent
44°F Avg Temperature 251 sunny days/yr
191 Violent Crime/100K 3,949 property/100K
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.1 / 5.0
$32,061 median income, 3.5% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.1 / 5.0
$144,200 home value, $819/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
191 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
4.9 / 5.0
48.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Potsdam, NY

At a Glance

Median Income
$32,061
57% below
$21,053 per capita
Home Value
$144,200
49% below
Zillow: $169,165
Median Rent
$819/mo
30% below
43.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
191/100K
50% below
3,949/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
48.7%
45% above
92.0% high school+
Unemployment
3.5%
3% below
12.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.8%
30% above
14.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
44°F
251 sunny days/yr

How Potsdam Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Potsdam's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
43%
Home Value
51%
Rent
70%
Poverty
100%
Bachelor's
145%
Unemployment
97%
Crime
50%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Potsdam a Good Place to Live?

B
3.3 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Potsdam residents earn a median household income of $32,061 , which is 57% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $21,053. The unemployment rate stands at 3.5% (3% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,108 business establishments, including 113 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Potsdam is $144,200 , 49% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $169,165. Median rent is $819/month, with 43.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 107.9 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1958.

Safety & Crime

Potsdam reports 191 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 50% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 3,949/100K.

Education

48.7% of adults in Potsdam hold a bachelor's degree or higher (45% above the national average). 92.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.5/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Potsdam has an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. The area gets 251 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 42.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.

Data Overview

People

Population8,507
Median Age21.7 yrs
Density1,729/mi²
Male / Female52% / 48%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans0.3%

Economy

B
Median Income$32,061
Per Capita$21,053
Unemployment3.5%
Poverty12.4%
County GDP$2,709M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,316

Housing

A
Home Value$144,200
Rent$819
Ownership34.5%
Zillow$169,165
Housing Units3,025
Rent Burden43.3%

Crime

F
Violent191/100K
Property3,949/100K

Health

Obesity41.8%
Diabetes10.4%
Smoking14.6%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death7,951/100K

Climate

Avg Temp44°F
Sunny Days251/yr
Rain42.0 in/yr
AQI36 (Good)
Elevation413 ft

Education

A+
Bachelor's+48.7%
High School+92.0%
Graduate+26.0%
School Score4.5/10

Community

2024 VoteR 55% / D 45%
Commute15 min
Broadband80.4%
Internet Speed123 Mbps
EV Stations7
Libraries5

Did You Know?

The median home in Potsdam was built in 1958.
The nearest airport is Massena International-Richards Field (20 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.440 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
14.3% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 123 Mbps.
There are 113 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 7 fatal vehicle crashes.