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Fulton County

NY · Pop. 52,787 · Mixed County

51/100Homestead Score

Fulton County sits in New York across 495 square miles, home to 52,787 people at 106.6 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $156,000, with an effective property tax rate of 2.13%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 146-day growing season, average summer highs of 78.2°F and average winter lows of 13°F. Annual rainfall averages 46.2 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Nathan Littauer Hospital is 5.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93.5% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 2.13%
Growing Season: 146 days
Broadband: 93.5%
Density: 106.6/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $156,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 93.5% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Nathan Littauer Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 5.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • Annual rainfall of 46.2 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.

Cons

  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A 146-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • An effective property tax rate of 2.13% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
  • Average winter lows of 13°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.

At a glance

Fulton County, NY is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
51/100
Median home price
$156k
Property tax
2.13%
Growing season
146 days (zone 5a)
Annual rainfall
46.2"
Broadband
93.5%
Nearest hospital
Nathan Littauer Hospital, 5.5 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate2.13%
Median Household Income$62,615
Poverty Rate14.5%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$156K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone5a
Growing Season146 days
Annual Rainfall46.2 inches
Avg Summer High78.2°F
Avg Winter Low13°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Corn

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought1/10
Wildfire3/10
Tornado5/10
Flood7/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalNathan Littauer Hospital (5.5 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage93.5%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.1%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Fulton County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Fulton County?
Fulton County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 146-day growing season, average summer highs of 78.2°F, and average winter lows of 13°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $156,000 and the effective property tax rate is 2.13%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 93.5% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Nathan Littauer Hospital is 5.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.