Cost of Living in Fort Drum, NY
Population 16,124 · New York · Data vintage 2023
(100 = US avg)
Fort Drum is a smaller New York community of around 16000 residents, where median household incomes of $63,194 and housing costs give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. Unemployment has stayed elevated relative to the national figure — 6.5% as of the most recent ACS release — which shows up in household-income and poverty figures as well.
Located 70 miles north of Syracuse, Fort Drum is far enough out that local conditions diverge meaningfully from the big-metro baseline. Syracuse's typical home runs $125,000 for context.
Cost Overview
Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.
About the Cost of Living in Fort Drum
Median rent runs $1,563/month, 19% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $63,194/year is 15% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 6.5%, above the national average of 4.8%. New York's top state income tax rate is 10.9% and the combined sales tax is 8.5%. The climate averages highs of 55.4°F and lows of 35.2°F. Overall, Fort Drum has a cost of living index of 119 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 19% more expensive.
🏠 Housing
HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom
💰 Estimated Monthly Budget
Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.
🛒 Food & Groceries
National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.
🚗 Transportation
Commute Mode
⚡ Utilities
📋 Taxes
💼 Income & Employment
🎓 Education
👥 Demographics
🌤 Climate
NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 30 | 31 | 40 | 54 | 66 | 75 | 79 | 78 | 71 | 58 | 47 | 36 |
| Low °F | 10 | 11 | 21 | 33 | 44 | 53 | 59 | 57 | 49 | 39 | 30 | 19 |
| Precip" | 2.86 | 2.18 | 2.37 | 3.07 | 2.97 | 3.09 | 3.01 | 3.20 | 3.56 | 4.22 | 3.40 | 3.14 |
💨 Air Quality
EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Fort Drum, NY?
Fort Drum has a cost index of 119 (100 = national average). It is 19% above the national average.
What is average rent in Fort Drum, NY?
The median gross rent in Fort Drum is $1,563 per month based on 2023 Census data.
What is the median income in Fort Drum?
The median household income in Fort Drum is $63,194 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).
What is the sales tax in Fort Drum, NY?
The combined state and local sales tax rate in Fort Drum is 8.5%. The New York state income tax top rate is 10.9%.
Is Fort Drum, NY affordable?
Fort Drum is above average in cost of living, with an index of 119 — about 19% higher than the national average.
What is the weather like in Fort Drum?
Fort Drum has average high temperatures of 55.4°F and average lows of 35.2°F. Annual precipitation is 37.1". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.
Fort Drum at a Glance
- Population
- 16,124
- Median Income
- $63,194
- Median Rent
- $1,563/mo
- Unemployment
- 6.5%
- Avg High Temp
- 55.4°F
- Sales Tax
- 8.5%
Nearby Cities
Explore county-level cost of living data