Population 115,040 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jefferson County
Household size in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.60 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.64 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.24 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Jefferson County is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.64 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the south.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.2 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.0 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Jefferson County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.2, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.5, in line with the national trend. Few New York counties are younger: only three of 62.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Jefferson County as they are nationally: 10.8%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.2% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.5% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.3% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Jefferson County than nationally: 45.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 50.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.6 points, in line with the national trend. Of New York's 62 counties, only five have a higher share of renters.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.2% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Jefferson County: 15.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Jefferson County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. Still, homes here are newer than in New York overall, where the median home dates to 1961. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the south has the oldest housing. Only three of New York's 62 counties have newer homes.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $823 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $966 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $947 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,151 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$329 | +$698 | +$606 |
Rent in Jefferson County runs $1,151 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $329 a month from 2006–10, a 40% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the east and lowest in the south.
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 Jefferson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.2% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.6% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.5% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Jefferson County than nationally: 26.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.2% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.7% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Jefferson County have finished high school (92.6%), above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Jefferson 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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Jefferson County: 6.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2.40 | 37.2 | 10.8% | 45.3% | 15.2% | 1974 | $1,151 | 26.5% | 92.6% | 6.3% |
| Essex County | 2.14 | 49.7 | 10.1% | 22.7% | 32.0% | 1965 | $1,006 | 33.2% | 92.9% | 4.0% |
| Addison County | 2.30 | 45.3 | 5.7% | 20.7% | 14.1% | 1976 | $1,321 | 46.3% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Orange County | 2.30 | 46.9 | 9.0% | 16.8% | 15.1% | 1976 | $1,226 | 38.5% | 94.8% | 2.3% |
| Androscoggin County | 2.41 | 40.7 | 11.4% | 32.1% | 8.3% | 1970 | $1,064 | 23.6% | 92.9% | 4.6% |
| Sagadahoc County | 2.26 | 47.8 | 10.0% | 22.2% | 13.1% | 1974 | $1,256 | 44.2% | 95.6% | 4.2% |
| Lincoln County | 2.18 | 50.4 | 6.9% | 17.5% | 25.2% | 1978 | $1,034 | 39.6% | 94.9% | 3.2% |
| Knox County | 2.16 | 49.7 | 7.3% | 21.3% | 22.6% | 1972 | $1,245 | 40.5% | 95.2% | 3.5% |
| Arenac County | 2.29 | 49.5 | 7.9% | 13.8% | 27.3% | 1977 | $750 | 16.1% | 88.3% | 6.3% |
| Gladwin County | 2.31 | 50.5 | 4.9% | 13.9% | 28.5% | 1980 | $817 | 17.1% | 88.8% | 6.7% |
| Clare County | 2.55 | 47.1 | 9.0% | 13.1% | 36.4% | 1976 | $757 | 13.3% | 88.1% | 9.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Missoula County, MT · Hardin County, KY · Henderson County, NC · Houston County, AL · Jasper County, MO · Albemarle County, VA · Kennebec County, ME · La Crosse County, WI · LaPorte County, IN · LaSalle County, IL
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 Jefferson 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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