What are the schools like in Belfast, NY?

Belfast is served primarily by BELFAST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.1:1.

What is the median household income in Belfast?

The median household income in Belfast, NY is $57,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Belfast, NY?

Belfast has an average high temperature of 32.6°F in January and 80.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 72.4 inches.

Belfast, NY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Belfast, NY affordable or expensive?

Belfast's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Belfast is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $77,600 and the median rent is $556 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Belfast, NY?

Belfast has a violent crime rate of 21.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 0.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Belfast, NY a Good Place to Live?

Belfast is a small town of 654 in New York, with a median household income of $57,500 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Belfast stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Belfast is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Belfast city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.1

Belfast's overall cost of living index is 89.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Belfast costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Belfast, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$77,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$556	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Belfast's violent crime rate is 21.7 per 100,000 residents — 94% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

21.7 /100k

Property Crime

0.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Belfast is served primarily by BELFAST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Belfast, NY	National Avg
School District	BELFAST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Belfast sees average highs of 32.6°F in January and 80.2°F in July, with 40.2 inches of annual precipitation and 72.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Belfast, NY
Average High — January	32.6°F
Average High — July	80.2°F
Annual Precipitation	40.2"
Annual Snowfall	72.4"

Demographics

Metric	Belfast, NY	National Avg
Population	654	—
Median Age	42.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.5%	22.2%
65 and over	15.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Angelica, NY 6 mi Houghton, NY 7 mi Rushford, NY 8 mi Fillmore, NY 9 mi Friendship, NY 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Belfast

Belfast, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

14711

Belfast vs Other Cities

Belfast, NY vs Angelica, NY Belfast, NY vs Houghton, NY Belfast, NY vs Rushford, NY Belfast, NY vs Fillmore, NY Belfast, NY vs Friendship, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Belfast, NY affordable or expensive?

Belfast's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Belfast roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $77,600 and median rent is $556/month.

What is the crime rate in Belfast, NY?

Belfast's violent crime rate is 21.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 0.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Belfast?

Public schools in Belfast are operated by BELFAST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.1:1. 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Belfast, NY a good place to live?

Belfast, NY has a population of 654, a median household income of $57,500, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Belfast?

Belfast averages 32.6°F in January and 80.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.2 inches with about 72.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Belfast?

Belfast, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 14711.

What is the population of Belfast?

The population of Belfast, New York is 654 with a median age of 42.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Belfast?

Key numbers for living in Belfast: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $77,600, median household income $57,500, crime index 3 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Belfast side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.