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CITY

Saranac Lake

New York · 4,793 residents (2025 est.) · 2.911 sq mi
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The short version

Saranac Lake has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $61,967. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $199,900. Households here earn about 28% less than the New York median. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
47% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,965
−2%since 2000
from 5,041 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,706 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 1,732 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.7
+8%since 2000
from 37.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,793 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K6K6K1990201020202024Saranac Lake
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,967
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,754 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,920
+121%since 2000
from $17,590 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.5%
+13.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.426
+4%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade2.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance2.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$199,900
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$853
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $392 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
47.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 45.8% in 2000
52.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.8%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.4%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.9%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+23%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
55
RELATED:See current rent listings in Saranac Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.2%(4,848)
Black0.7%(37)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(54)
Asian0.4%(22)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.6%(283)
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.3%(4,485)
Black0.8%(40)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(179)
Asian1.6%(78)
Other3.7%(183)
Diversity Score22.6%(1,124)
Diversity Score
23
+304%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
46.8%
+19.2 ptssince 2000
from 27.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.3%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 86.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.2%
+11.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.8 min
+40%since 2000
from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.8%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 73.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.7%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.9%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
11.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.0%
−5.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.0%
−7.3 ptssince 2011
from 69.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
29.3%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.9%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 66.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
54.5%
+7.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
Female
45.5%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.4%
−82.4 ptssince 2013
from 87.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.4%
+9.6 ptssince 2017
from 74.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Saranac Lake to nearby cities

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Income$57,630−7%
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SARANAC LAKE VS
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SARANAC LAKE VS
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SARANAC LAKE VS
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Home value$381,500+91%
Population8,239+72%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Saranac Lake, New York?

Saranac Lake, New York has about 4,965 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Saranac Lake, New York?

The typical household in Saranac Lake, New York earns about $61,967 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Saranac Lake, New York expensive?

In Saranac Lake, New York, the median home is worth about $199,900, and the typical rent is about $853 a month.

How educated are people in Saranac Lake, New York?

About 46.8% of adults age 25 and over in Saranac Lake, New York hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Saranac Lake, New York?

About 17.7% of people in Saranac Lake, New York live below the federal poverty line.

Has Saranac Lake, New York grown since 1990?

Yes, Saranac Lake, New York has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 412 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →