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Oneida County

NY · Pop. 229,645 · Mixed County

39/100Homestead Score

Oneida County sits in New York across 1,212 square miles, home to 229,645 people at 189.5 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $171,000, with an effective property tax rate of 2.13%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 155-day growing season, average summer highs of 78.5°F and average winter lows of 14.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.7 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Rome Memorial Hospital, Inc is 1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 2.13%
Growing Season: 155 days
Broadband: 93.9%
Density: 189.5/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $171,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 93.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Rome Memorial Hospital, Inc, with an emergency room, is just 1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on hay, haylage, corn means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.9% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A 155-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 14.6°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.

At a glance

Oneida County, NY is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
39/100
Median home price
$171k
Property tax
2.13%
Growing season
155 days (zone 5b)
Annual rainfall
43.7"
Broadband
93.9%
Nearest hospital
Rome Memorial Hospital, Inc, 1 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate2.13%
Median Household Income$68,819
Poverty Rate14.6%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$171K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone5b
Growing Season155 days
Annual Rainfall43.7 inches
Avg Summer High78.5°F
Avg Winter Low14.6°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Corn

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought1/10
Wildfire4/10
Tornado8/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalRome Memorial Hospital, Inc (1 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities7

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage93.9%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.9%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Oneida County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Oneida County?
Oneida County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 155-day growing season, average summer highs of 78.5°F, and average winter lows of 14.6°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $171,000 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 93.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Rome Memorial Hospital, Inc is 1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 7 hospitals in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Oneida County by distance, including across state lines.

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.