Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Springtime at Fort Drum · DVIDSHUB / CC BY 2.0Spartan, 10th Mountain Division soldiers and their families catch Syracuse University scrimmage football game 130815-A-YK672-022 · Sgt. Javier Amador / Public domain
Fort Drum is a small city of 16,298 in New York, with a median household income of $56,559
and a 9.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fort Drum stands out for an affordable cost of living, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fort Drum is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fort Drum 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: 90.5
Fort Drum's overall cost of living index is 90.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fort Drum costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fort Drum, NY
National Avg
Median Home Value
N/A
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,471
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
2.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,559
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Fort Drum's violent crime rate is 142.0 per 100,000 residents
— 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
142.0 /100k
Property Crime
1026.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Fort Drum, NY
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fort Drum sees average highs of 28.9°F in January
and 79.8°F in July,
with 45.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 116.4 inches of snow per year.
Fort Drum's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fort Drum roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is N/A and median rent is $1,471/month.
Fort Drum's violent crime rate is 142.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1026.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Fort Drum, NY has a population of 16,298, a median household income of $56,559, and an unemployment rate of 9.7%.
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.
Fort Drum averages 28.9°F in January and 79.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.1 inches
with about 116.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fort Drum, NY is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 13602, 13603.
The population of Fort Drum, New York is 16,298 with a median age of 22.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fort Drum: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home N/A, median household income $56,559, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fort Drum side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
