Oswego County, NY

County

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2024 Population

117,953

US Senator

Chuck Schumer

Democratic Party

US Senator

Kirsten Gillibrand

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

40.9

0.739% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

16.3%

1.26% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$69,183

1.05% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$151,700

8.67% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

53,469

0.626% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Oswego County, NY reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99.4% of the residents in Oswego County, NY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Oswego County, NY are State University of New York at Oswego (1,811 degrees awarded in 2023) and Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (20 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Oswego County, NY was $151,700, and the homeownership rate was 73.4%.

Most people in Oswego County, NY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 25.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Oswego County, NY was 2 cars per household.

Oswego County, NY borders Cayuga County, NY, Jefferson County, NY, Lewis County, NY, Madison County, NY, Oneida County, NY, and Onondaga County, NY.

United States New York Syracuse, NY

Population & Diversity

Oswego County, NY is home to a population of 118k people, from which 99.4% are citizens. As of 2024, 1.96% of Oswego County, NY residents were born outside of the country (2.31k people).

In 2024, there were 45.1 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (107k people) in Oswego County, NY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.37k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 1.88k Two Races Including Other (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.4%

2024 Citizenship

99.3%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 99.4% of Oswego County, NY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Oswego County, NY was 99.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Oswego County, NY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Oswego County, NY

White (Non-Hispanic)
107k ± 522
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
2.37k ± 250
Two Races Including Other (Non-Hispanic)
1.88k ± 458

3.33%

Hispanic Population

3.93k people

3.33% of the people in Oswego County, NY are hispanic (3.93k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Oswego County, NY as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for New York.

Most Common Origin

Dominican Republic
493,200 ± 17,027 people
China
410,969 ± 15,575 people
Jamaica
234,174 ± 11,811 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of New York was Dominican Republic, the natal country of 493,200 New York residents, followed by China with 410,969 and Jamaica with 234,174.

Foreign-Born Population

1.96%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

2.31k people

2023 Foreign-Born Population

2.36k people

As of 2024, 1.96% of Oswego County, NY residents (2.31k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Oswego County, NY was 2%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Oswego County, NY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
2,372 ± 286
Gulf War (2001-)
1,648 ± 334
Gulf War (1990s)
1,062 ± 182

Oswego County, NY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.44 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Oswego County, NY.

Economy

The economy of Oswego County, NY employs 53.5k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Oswego County, NY were Retail Trade (7,248 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (7,208 people), and Educational Services (6,082 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($115,625), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($78,257), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($64,325).

Employment

Occupations

53.5k

2024 Value

± 1,559

−0.626%

1 Year decline

± 4.14%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Oswego County, NY declined at a rate of −0.626%, from 53.8k employees to 53.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Oswego County, NY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,126 people), Management Occupations (5,278 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (4,844 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Oswego County, NY.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New York.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in New York (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

53.5k

2024 Value

± 1,559

−0.626%

1 Year decline

± 4.14%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Oswego County, NY declined at a rate of −0.626%, from 53.8k employees to 53.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Oswego County, NY, are Retail Trade (7,248 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (7,208 people), and Educational Services (6,082 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Oswego County, NY, though some of these residents may live in Oswego County, NY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$49,790

Median earning men ± $2,475

$37,230

Median earning women ± $1,358

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($74,500), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($72,335), and Manufacturing ($65,979).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($55,904), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($52,639), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($51,488).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New York.

Y-Axis

2.74%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 9.56M people employed in New York. This represents a 2.74% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 19.7%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in New York.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

239
Construction
189
Other Services (except Public Administration)
136
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$241k
Utilities
$234k
Manufacturing
$198k
Health Care and Social Assistance

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Education

In 2023, universities in Oswego County, NY awarded 1,831 degrees. The student population of Oswego County, NY in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 3,195 male students and 3,582 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Oswego County, NY are White (1,322 and 74.6%), Hispanic or Latino (188 and 10.6%), Black or African American (166 and 9.37%), and Asian (44 and 2.48%).

The largest universities in Oswego County, NY by number of degrees awarded are State University of New York at Oswego (1,811 and 98.9%) and Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (20 and 1.09%).

The most popular majors in Oswego County, NY are General Business Administration & Management (241 and 13.2%), Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (119 and 6.5%), and General Psychology (103 and 5.63%).

The median tuition cost in Oswego County, NY for a public four year colleges is $7,070 for in-state students and $16,980 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Oswego County, NY, the percentage of applicants admitted was 80.4%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 10.2%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 6,777 (47.1% men and 52.9% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 6,777 students enrolled in Oswego County, NY, 47.1% men and 52.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 4,482 records, of which 52.9% were women and 47.1% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Psychology
103 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
180 degrees awarded
Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
119 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Oswego County, NY was General Psychology with 103 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Oswego County, NY according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

State University of New York at Oswego
1,811 degrees awarded
Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation
20 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was State University of New York at Oswego with 1,811 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 833 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Oswego County, NY, which is 0.835 times less than the 998 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,322 degrees mean that there were 7.03 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 188 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($7,070) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,699) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,000) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Oswego County, NY was $151,700 in 2024, which is 0.456 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $139,600 to $151,700, a 8.67% increase. The homeownership rate in Oswego County, NY is 73.4%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Oswego County, NY have an average commute time of 25.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Oswego County, NY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 13.9% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Oswego County, NY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 1.92%.

Housing

Property

$151,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,647

$34,680

Median Property Taxes

±$1,122

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Oswego County, NY the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Oswego County, NY compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

73.4%

Homeownership

2024

60.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 73.4% of the housing units in Oswego County, NY were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 73.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Oswego County, NY compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$69,183

Median Household Income

± $2,355

47.2k

Number of Households

± 1,426

In 2024, the median household income of the 47.2k households in Oswego County, NY grew to $69,183 from the previous year's value of $68,461.

The following chart displays the households in Oswego County, NY distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Oswego County, NY is from New York.

0.493

2023 Wage GINI in New York

0.494

2022 Wage GINI in New York

In 2023, the income inequality in New York was 0.493 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0797% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for New York was higher than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in New York in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in New York across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (78.4%)
Worked At Home (8.31%)
Carpooled (7.98%)

In 2024, 78.4% of workers in Oswego County, NY drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (8.31%) and those who carpooled to work (7.98%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

25.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Oswego County, NY have a shorter commute time (25.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.02% of the workforce in Oswego County, NY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Oswego County, NY compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Oswego County, NY distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Oswego County, NY have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 13.9% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Oswego County, NY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 1.92%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

16.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Oswego County, NY (18.4k out of 112k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 45 - 54.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Oswego County, NY is White, followed by Two Or More and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 18.8% of the children was living in poverty in Oswego County, NY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.6%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 212 in Oswego County, NY. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 61.7 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

95.8% of the population of Oswego County, NY has health coverage, with 43.7% on employee plans, 24.3% on Medicaid, 13.1% on Medicare, 12.6% on non-group plans, and 2.11% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Oswego County, NY see 2,498 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,498 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2151 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 540 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.3% were men and 49.7% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,498 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Oswego County, NY

Primary care physicians in Oswego County, NY see an average of 2,498 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,498 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Oswego County, NY in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23% under 18 years, 20.5% between 18 and 34 years, 38.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.3% were men and 49.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.21%

Uninsured

43.7%

Employer Coverage

24.3%

Medicaid

13.1%

Medicare

12.6%

Non-Group

2.11%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Oswego County, NY declined by 4.22% from 4.39% to 4.21%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Oswego County, NY changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 48.4 in Oswego County, NY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Oswego County, NY.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 38.5% in Oswego County, NY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Oswego County, NY.