What are the schools like in Oswego, NY?

Oswego is served primarily by OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Oswego?

The median household income in Oswego, NY is $50,266 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.7%.

What is the weather like in Oswego, NY?

Oswego has an average high temperature of 31.1°F in January and 79.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 140.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Oswego, NY affordable or expensive?

Oswego's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Oswego is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $108,300 and the median rent is $977 per month.

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

Oswego has a violent crime rate of 37.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 311.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Oswego, NY a Good Place to Live?

Oswego is a small city of 17,092 in New York, with a median household income of $50,266 and a 10.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Oswego is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Oswego 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: 95.2

Oswego's overall cost of living index is 95.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Oswego costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Oswego, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$108,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$977	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,266	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Oswego's violent crime rate is 37.6 per 100,000 residents — 90% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

37.6 /100k

Property Crime

311.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Oswego is served primarily by OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Oswego, NY	National Avg
School District	OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Oswego sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 79.6°F in July, with 43.1 inches of annual precipitation and 140.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Oswego, NY
Average High — January	31.1°F
Average High — July	79.6°F
Annual Precipitation	43.1"
Annual Snowfall	140.1"

Demographics

Metric	Oswego, NY	National Avg
Population	17,092	—
Median Age	35.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	17.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

SUNY Oswego, NY 2 mi Minetto, NY 4 mi Hannibal, NY 10 mi Fulton, NY 10 mi Mexico, NY 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Oswego

Oswego, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

13126

Oswego vs Other Cities

Oswego, NY vs SUNY Oswego, NY Oswego, NY vs Minetto, NY Oswego, NY vs Hannibal, NY Oswego, NY vs Fulton, NY Oswego, NY vs Mexico, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oswego, NY affordable or expensive?

Oswego's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Oswego roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $108,300 and median rent is $977/month.

What is the crime rate in Oswego, NY?

Oswego's violent crime rate is 37.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 311.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Oswego?

Public schools in Oswego are operated by OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Oswego, NY a good place to live?

Oswego, NY has a population of 17,092, a median household income of $50,266, and an unemployment rate of 10.7%. 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 Oswego?

Oswego averages 31.1°F in January and 79.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.1 inches with about 140.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Oswego?

Oswego, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 13126.

What is the population of Oswego?

The population of Oswego, New York is 17,092 with a median age of 35.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Oswego?

Key numbers for living in Oswego: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $108,300, median household income $50,266, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oswego side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.