Ulster County, NY Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Ulster County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 170,655 | 19,009,591 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 147.1 | 348.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.19% | 0.06% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 42.9 | 38.5 | 37.1 |
| Households | 72,168 | 7,641,851 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Ulster County declined by 1.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 178,063 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Ulster County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Ulster County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,568 | $85,191 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.40% | 4.93% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 6.2% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Ulster County is about 4% lower than in New York.
Housing
| Metric | Ulster County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $324,106 | $436,407 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,334 | $1,576 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.7% | 54.2% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Ulster County is about 20.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,334 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Ulster County spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 182 hours, about 7.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Ulster County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.9 | 29.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 43.7 | 57.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 182 | 241 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,649 | $7,480 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 13.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 8,927 | 9,257 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,331 | 1,586 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
New York:
Chautauqua County (15.3 min), Hamilton County (15.8 min), Clinton County (16.4 min).
Slowest:
Bronx County (45.1 min), Kings County (42.1 min), Queens County (42.1 min).
The average commute time in Ulster County is 22 minutes, shorter than the 29 minutes in New York.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Ulster County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Ulster County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.1% | 36.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.29 | 2.51 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
New York:
New York County (0.5), Tompkins County (0.4), Westchester County (0.4).
Lowest:
Bronx County (0.2), Orleans County (0.2), Hamilton County (0.2).
Health
Ulster County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Ulster County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.2 | 80.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.8% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.4% | 17.4% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
New York:
Tompkins County (0.8), Nassau County (0.8), New York County (0.8).
Lowest:
Bronx County (0.8), Montgomery County (0.8), Cattaraugus County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ulster County, New York.
What is the population of Ulster County, New York?
The population of Ulster County, New York is 170,655, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Ulster County, New York?
The population density of Ulster County, New York is 147.1 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Ulster County, New York?
The median household income in Ulster County, New York is $81,568, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Ulster County, New York?
The median home price in Ulster County, New York is $324,106, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Ulster County, New York?
The unemployment rate in Ulster County, New York is 5.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.