1st Advantage MortgageIn Clinton County, New York, the typical household earns $71,224 a year and the typical rent is $1,003. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's New York license first.
On this page
- Clinton County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Clinton County
- What Clinton County households earn
- What it costs to live in Clinton County
- The communities that make up Clinton County
- The counties around Clinton County
- Debt-to-income at Clinton County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Clinton County
- More Clinton County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Clinton County
- Steps before you apply in Clinton County
- More guides for Clinton County
- Frequently asked questions
Clinton County at a glance
Clinton County is home to about 78,493 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 34th most populous of 62 county-level areas in New York. Land area is 1,038 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 76 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Clinton County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 18 places in the county (4 incorporated, 14 census-designated); the largest is Plattsburgh, with about 19,830 residents, or 25% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Clinton County
The biggest employer of Clinton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 12% locally and 6% for New York. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Clinton County. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Clinton County workers | vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.7% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.3% | +6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 9.2% | +4.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.0% | -7.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Clinton County households earn
Half of Clinton County households take in less than $71,224 a year and half take in more, 17% below the New York median of $85,974. Only 32 New York counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Clinton County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.7% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.5% | +0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -9.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Clinton County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.7%, the same as the state's 14.0%. None of these numbers decides a Clinton County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Clinton County
A typical Clinton County rental runs $1,003 a month including utilities, which is 38% below New York. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $180,600, about 2.5 times the median household income. 69% of Clinton County households own their home and 31% rent. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Clinton County | New York | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,003/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $180,600 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.3% | 2.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
The communities that make up Clinton County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Clinton County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 39,145 residents, leaving about 50% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $108,182 at the median in Cumberland Head, $39,000 in Altona. None of the 18 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plattsburgh | city | 19,830 | $57,630 | $1,030 | 13 mi |
| Dannemora | village | 2,684 | $62,411 | $740 | 2 mi |
| Keeseville | CDP | 2,570 | $62,063 | $1,091 | 20 mi |
| Rouses Point | village | 2,414 | $46,250 | $737 | 23 mi |
| Peru | CDP | 1,965 | $66,812 | $1,042 | 15 mi |
| Morrisonville | CDP | 1,950 | $90,430 | $1,103 | 8 mi |
| Cumberland Head | CDP | 1,535 | $108,182 | $1,423 | 15 mi |
| Plattsburgh West | CDP | 1,328 | $49,904 | $974 | 11 mi |
| Champlain | village | 1,270 | $65,000 | $1,071 | 21 mi |
| West Chazy | CDP | 867 | $105,898 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Altona | CDP | 544 | $39,000 | $1,107 | 10 mi |
| Cadyville | CDP | 479 | $84,012 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Au Sable Forks | CDP | 369 | $52,656 | $792 | 21 mi |
| Mooers | CDP | 350 | $108,162 | n/a | 16 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
The counties around Clinton County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 54 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Clinton County; Grand Isle County is highest at $97,396 and Franklin County lowest at $65,151. The list crosses into Vermont, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | - | $71,224 | $1,003/mo | 69% |
| Grand Isle County, VT | 20 mi | $97,396 | $1,425/mo | 90% |
| Franklin County, NY | 32 mi | $65,151 | $843/mo | 73% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 37 mi | $96,759 | $1,646/mo | 64% |
| Franklin County, VT | 40 mi | $81,313 | $1,180/mo | 77% |
| Essex County, NY | 45 mi | $71,661 | $934/mo | 77% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 54 mi | $74,908 | $1,160/mo | 73% |
Debt-to-income at Clinton County's medians
How much room does a median Clinton County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $71,224 a year is $5,935 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,003)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,137 total minus rent leaves $1,134
If your rent is above $1,003, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Clinton County
Based on the Clinton County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Clinton County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Clinton County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
More Clinton County figures
28% of Clinton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 3.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Clinton County | All of New York | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.6% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.1% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.4% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Clinton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Licensing and complaints for Clinton County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Clinton County, check the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The New York guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Clinton County
Quick steps for Clinton County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Clinton County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the New York license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Clinton County
For statewide rules and data, see the New York guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clinton County a high-income county?
Its $71,224 median ranks 33rd of 62 New York counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Clinton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,003 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Clinton County?
By population: Plattsburgh, Dannemora, Keeseville, Rouses Point, Peru. The county has 18 Census places in all.
Can Clinton County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every New York county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Clinton County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New York it is the New York State Department of Financial Services.