United States › New York › Oswego CITY · 2020 ACS
Oswego New York · 16,921 residents · 7.61 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 16,921 people, Oswego is a city in New York. The poverty rate is 27.6%, above the 12.8% national rate. Median home value sits at $89,600. That trails the New York median by roughly 36%. 51% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 3%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 17K 18K 19K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Oswego Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $45,216
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,248 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,558 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 23.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Education & health services 4.8%
Public administration 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.5%
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$89,600
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$860
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $496 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 52.3% in 2000
49.4% rent
from 2.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 94.1%(16,888)
Hispanic / Latino 2.8%(503)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 85.5%(14,475)
Hispanic / Latino 6%(1,022)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data from 21.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 79.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 55.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 7.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 46.8%(3,247)
Women 15+
Never married 35.1%(2,483)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 25.2%(283)
Gulf War (1990s) 11.3%(127)
Share of the 1,125 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Oswego, New York? Oswego, New York has about 16,921 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Oswego, New York? The typical household in Oswego, New York earns about $45,216 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Oswego, New York expensive? In Oswego, New York, the median home is worth about $89,600, and the typical rent is about $860 a month.
How educated are people in Oswego, New York? About 26.7% of adults age 25 and over in Oswego, New York hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Oswego, New York? About 27.6% of people in Oswego, New York live below the federal poverty line.
Has Oswego, New York grown since 1990? Yes, Oswego, New York has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,274 residents, a change of about -12 percent over that period.
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