Median Income
$53,875
household / year
Median Home Value
$245,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,291
gross / month
Cost of Living
102
national avg = 100

Is Poughkeepsie, NY a Good Place to Live?

Poughkeepsie is a small city of 31,717 in New York, with a median household income of $53,875 and a 7.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Poughkeepsie stands out for short average commutes.

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

All Poughkeepsie 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: 101.5

Poughkeepsie's overall cost of living index is 101.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Poughkeepsie costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric Poughkeepsie, NY National Avg
Median Home Value $245,100 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,291 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 37.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $53,875 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Poughkeepsie's violent crime rate is 643.8 per 100,000 residents — 69% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
643.8 /100k
Property Crime
1636.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

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

Metric Poughkeepsie, NY National Avg
School District POUGHKEEPSIE 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 32.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 88.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Poughkeepsie sees average highs of 35.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 47.2 inches of annual precipitation and 59.2 inches of snow per year.

MetricPoughkeepsie, NY
Average High — January35.0°F
Average High — July83.1°F
Annual Precipitation47.2"
Annual Snowfall59.2"

Demographics

MetricPoughkeepsie, NYNational Avg
Population31,717—
Median Age37.838.9
Unemployment Rate7.3%3.7%
Avg Commute Time25.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)44.7%59.3%
Black or African American33.9%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino13.7%18.9%
Asian1.5%6.3%
Under 1819.5%22.2%
65 and over17.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Arlington, NY 1 mi Vassar College, NY 2 mi Marist College, NY 2 mi Fairview CDP (Dutchess County), NY 3 mi Spackenkill, NY 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Poughkeepsie

Poughkeepsie, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

12601

Poughkeepsie vs Other Cities

Poughkeepsie, NY vs Arlington, NY Poughkeepsie, NY vs Vassar College, NY Poughkeepsie, NY vs Marist College, NY Poughkeepsie, NY vs Fairview CDP (Dutchess County), NY Poughkeepsie, NY vs Spackenkill, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Poughkeepsie's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Poughkeepsie roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $245,100 and median rent is $1,291/month.
Poughkeepsie's violent crime rate is 643.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1636.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Poughkeepsie are operated by POUGHKEEPSIE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 32.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Poughkeepsie, NY has a population of 31,717, a median household income of $53,875, and an unemployment rate of 7.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Poughkeepsie averages 35.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.2 inches with about 59.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Poughkeepsie, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 12601.
The population of Poughkeepsie, New York is 31,717 with a median age of 37.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Poughkeepsie: cost of living index 102 (100 = US average), median home $245,100, median household income $53,875, crime index 133 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Poughkeepsie side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.