Population 298,220 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dutchess County
Household size in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.66 | 2.87 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 2.92 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.59 | 2.88 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.49 | 2.85 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Dutchess County has 2.49 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.66, a much bigger shift than nationally. Compared with other New York counties, though, Dutchess County has larger households than most.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.9 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.2 | 38.8 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.2 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.5 | 40.0 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +1.9 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Dutchess County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.5, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.9, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 10.8% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 9.9% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 9.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 9.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Dutchess County than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Dutchess County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of New York counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Dutchess County
Renters in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.4% | 29.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.5% | 30.5% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.2% | 32.3% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.8% | 31.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Dutchess County own their homes; 30.8% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the south. The renter share has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 10.3% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 8.0% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Dutchess County than nationally: 6.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.6 points, in line with the national trend. Of New York's 62 counties, only four have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1968 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1970 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1971 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1974 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Dutchess County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the west.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,125 | $1,135 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,227 | $1,260 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,360 | $1,393 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,686 | $1,742 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$562 | +$607 | +$698 | +$606 |
Rent in Dutchess County runs $1,686 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $562 a month from 2006–10, a 50% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 32.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Dutchess County
Bachelor's degrees in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4% | 29.4% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.7% | 30.3% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.6% | 32.1% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 41.4% | 35.1% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +5.7 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Dutchess County than nationally: 41.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.6% | 87.8% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.4% | 89.6% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.5% | 90.3% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +3.5 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Dutchess County is a bit above the national rate: 92.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Dutchess County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of New York counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Dutchess County
| Period | Dutchess County | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 6.5% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 8.6% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 5.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Dutchess County is close to the national rate: 5.2% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Dutchess County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutchess County | 2.49 | 43.5 | 8.8% | 30.8% | 6.7% | 1970 | $1,686 | 41.4% | 92.5% | 5.2% |
| Litchfield County | 2.43 | 46.6 | 8.7% | 23.0% | 12.4% | 1967 | $1,383 | 38.9% | 94.3% | 5.1% |
| Sullivan County | 2.61 | 41.0 | 15.9% | 32.6% | 34.1% | 1973 | $1,223 | 28.8% | 87.1% | 5.2% |
| Hartford County | 2.48 | 41.5 | 11.8% | 35.1% | 7.3% | 1966 | $1,572 | 40.8% | 90.8% | 5.4% |
| Wayne County | 2.35 | 49.3 | 9.3% | 19.5% | 28.3% | 1977 | $1,056 | 24.3% | 92.4% | 5.8% |
| Wyoming County | 2.34 | 45.4 | 8.7% | 22.1% | 15.0% | 1970 | $956 | 22.3% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
| Kent County | 2.40 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 26.9% | 5.8% | 1966 | $1,442 | 34.8% | 93.3% | 4.7% |
| Bristol County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.8% | 28.2% | 7.5% | 1958 | $1,796 | 54.4% | 94.1% | 3.0% |
| Newport County | 2.25 | 46.8 | 6.9% | 32.1% | 14.5% | 1965 | $1,760 | 54.1% | 95.6% | 5.6% |
| Bristol County | 2.49 | 41.8 | 13.0% | 37.7% | 5.5% | 1964 | $1,422 | 30.3% | 86.2% | 5.5% |
| Barnstable County | 2.20 | 54.1 | 6.9% | 18.9% | 29.4% | 1977 | $1,772 | 48.4% | 96.2% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hawaii County, HI · Madison County, AL · Jefferson County, TX · Jefferson County, MO · Jackson County, OR · Howard County, MD · Horry County, SC · Henrico County, VA · Hays County, TX · Mercer County, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Dutchess County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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