With 8,427 people, Potsdam is a city in New York. The median age is 21.7, younger than the US median of 38.9. Owners hold 34% of the housing stock. That trails the New York median by roughly 60%. 29.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line. 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $34,546, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 21.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
52% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Potsdam
What changed most since 1990
Population10,251 → 8,427(−18%)US over the same years: +35%
Adults with a bachelor's degree43.3% → 51.8%(+8.5 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Hispanic share1.0% → 4.2%(+3.2 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Potsdam's population equals 7.9% of St. Lawrence County's. Its number of veterans equals 0.6% of the county's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 26% of the county's.
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)0%(0)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era54.3%(19)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 35 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Potsdam, decade by decade
Potsdam population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
10,251
$41,754
$140,644
43.3%
14.8
2000
9,425
$38,752
$134,620
41.4%
22.0
2010
9,428
$33,294
$130,335
42.8%
29.2
2020
8,312
$31,331
$142,172
42.3%
56.9
2024
8,427
$34,546
$146,400
51.8%
41.5
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
