Population 6,080 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Saranac Lake
Household size in Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.06 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.92 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Saranac Lake are small: just 1.92 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.06, a much bigger shift than nationally. Saranac Lake has the smallest households of any New York city with 5,000+ people.
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 Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.8 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.4 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Saranac Lake skews older than the country: its median age is 43.2, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the south.
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 Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.9% of households in Saranac Lake, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Saranac Lake
Renters in Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.3% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.9% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.5% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.0% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Saranac Lake than nationally: 46.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among owners, 42.0% have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 5.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 45 of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people 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 Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.3% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Saranac Lake: 18.2% 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 is down 6.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger 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 Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1945 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1949 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Saranac Lake is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1953, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1945 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $670 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $779 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $801 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $823 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$153 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Saranac Lake pays $823 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $153 a month from 2006–10, a 23% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 Saranac Lake
Bachelor's degrees in Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.5% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.0% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Saranac Lake than nationally: 42.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.8 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the north.
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 Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.7% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.5% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Saranac Lake have finished high school (91.5%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Compared with other New York cities, though, Saranac Lake has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
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 Saranac Lake
| Period | Saranac Lake | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Saranac Lake has been strong: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Saranac Lake compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saranac Lake | 1.92 | 43.2 | 5.9% | 46.0% | 18.2% | 1953 | $823 | 42.0% | 91.5% | 2.7% |
| Ray Brook | 2.00 | 39.3 | 17.1% | 31.6% | 64.3% | 1981 | $1,095 | 7.1% | 54.9% | 0.0% |
| Lake Clear | 2.17 | 48.4 | 4.8% | 12.5% | 31.4% | 1947 | $903 | 50.0% | 98.4% | 0.1% |
| Whiteface | 2.02 | 55.7 | 17.5% | 21.7% | 61.6% | 1996 | $1,063 | 49.4% | 94.0% | 10.6% |
| Bloomingdale | 2.22 | 51.2 | 7.6% | 21.5% | 18.3% | 1964 | $845 | 39.6% | 97.6% | 3.2% |
| Gabriels | 1.89 | 26.6 | 2.9% | 28.0% | 45.0% | 1944 | $1,061 | 40.5% | 95.0% | 5.3% |
| Lake Placid | 1.79 | 42.2 | 13.9% | 39.6% | 28.8% | 1974 | $1,260 | 44.1% | 94.4% | 1.3% |
| Upper St. Regis | 2.03 | 42.2 | 3.7% | 15.4% | 45.9% | 1945 | $939 | 49.5% | 96.8% | 2.9% |
| Saranac Inn | 1.89 | 61.9 | 5.5% | 12.4% | 65.9% | 1974 | $704 | 49.0% | 93.0% | 3.2% |
| Paul Smiths | 1.83 | 23.4 | 1.9% | 28.5% | 54.7% | 1939 | $1,088 | 42.8% | 94.6% | 6.9% |
| Franklin Falls | 2.14 | 52.8 | 10.5% | 15.5% | 32.3% | 1969 | $775 | 36.6% | 96.9% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rockport, MA · Roslyn Heights, NY · Roseland, NJ · Rootstown, OH · Ronan, MT · Roland, OK · Rogue River, OR · Rogersville, AL · Roeland Park, KS · Rockvale, TN
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 Saranac Lake. 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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