1st Advantage MortgageFulton County households have a median income of $66,533 and median rent of $912 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Fulton County
- Fulton County's most unusual numbers
- How much Fulton County households make
- How Fulton County residents earn a living
- Where Fulton County households live
- Fulton County, Montgomery County and other neighbors
- Gloversville and the rest of Fulton County
- A Fulton County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Fulton County
- Local borrowing considerations for Fulton County
- Verifying a lender from Fulton County
- Checklist for Fulton County applicants
- Other New York guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Fulton County
Fulton County is home to about 52,487 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 45th most populous of 62 county-level areas in New York. It covers 495 square miles of land, or about 106 people per square mile. Fulton County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Of the 7 Census places inside Fulton County, Gloversville leads by population with about 14,962; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
Fulton County's most unusual numbers
Ranked against the other 61 county-level areas in New York, these are the Fulton County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few New York counties match Fulton County on the share of workers who work from home: 6.9% here, 14.9% for the state, ranking 3rd lowest of 62. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
- The ACS unemployment rate: 3.5% in Fulton County. Only 3 of 62 New York counties are lower. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- Few New York counties match Fulton County on the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 21% here, 40% for the state, ranking 5th lowest of 62. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
- Fulton County ranks 7th lowest of 62 New York counties for the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 41%, against 52% statewide. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
How much Fulton County households make
At $66,533, the typical Fulton County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 47 New York counties post a higher median.
| Band | Fulton County | Compared with New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +10.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.1% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -12.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Fulton County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.1%, 1 point lower than the state's 14.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.439 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Fulton County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Fulton County residents earn a living
Top Fulton County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 27%; second, retail trade, 15%. Fulton County over-indexes on retail trade: 15% versus 10% in New York. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.5% in Fulton County. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 10.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Fulton County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.2% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.5% | +5.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | +4.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -5.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Where Fulton County households live
A typical Fulton County rental runs $912 a month including utilities, which is 44% below New York. By the Census definition, 41% of Fulton County renters are cost-burdened. Fulton County homes are worth $163,100 at the median, a 2.5-to-1 ratio to income. 71% of Fulton County households own their home and 29% rent. Median construction year: 1954. Nationally, Fulton County's $912 rent is 4% above the middle county.
| Fulton County | New York | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $912/mo | $1,621/mo | 44% lower |
| Median home value | $163,100 | $423,800 | 62% lower |
| Owners | 71% | 54% | +17.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 52% | -10.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 33% | -8.6 pts |
| Vacant units | 19% | 10% | +8.9 pts |
Fulton County, Montgomery County and other neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Montgomery County at 15 miles out to Herkimer County at 38. Richest neighbor: Saratoga County, $100,787. Poorest: Montgomery County, $64,943. Fulton County: $66,533.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | - | $66,533 | $912/mo | 71% |
| Montgomery County, NY | 15 mi | $64,943 | $940/mo | 70% |
| Schenectady County, NY | 28 mi | $79,623 | $1,194/mo | 64% |
| Saratoga County, NY | 29 mi | $100,787 | $1,394/mo | 72% |
| Schoharie County, NY | 36 mi | $70,133 | $909/mo | 76% |
| Hamilton County, NY | 38 mi | $68,835 | $912/mo | 82% |
| Herkimer County, NY | 38 mi | $68,515 | $823/mo | 77% |
Gloversville and the rest of Fulton County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Fulton County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 29,351 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,556 in Gloversville to $107,557 in Broadalbin. Median rent ranges from $828 in Dolgeville to $1,080 in Mayfield. No Fulton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloversville | city | 14,962 | $51,556 | $903 | 6 mi |
| Johnstown | city | 8,111 | $63,763 | $914 | 8 mi |
| Dolgeville | village | 1,874 | $67,740 | $828 | 18 mi |
| Broadalbin | village | 1,819 | $107,557 | $992 | 12 mi |
| Mayfield | village | 1,099 | $70,208 | $1,080 | 8 mi |
| Northville | village | 1,038 | $78,235 | $887 | 15 mi |
| Caroga Lake | CDP | 448 | $55,200 | n/a | 3 mi |
A Fulton County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Fulton County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Fulton County: $5,544
- Median rent: $912, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,306 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Fulton County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21% of Fulton County adults. The uninsured rate is 3.8%, against 5.1% for New York.
| People and households | Fulton County | Compared with New York | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | -19.3 pts | -1.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 10.2% | -19.0 pts | +4.8 pts |
| Work from home | 6.9% | -8.0 pts | -1.7 pts |
| Median age | 44.1 | +4.3 yrs | +2.6 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | -2.9 pts | -1.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | -1.7 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | -1.2 pts | -4.0 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | -0.9 pts | 0.0 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Fulton County
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Verifying a lender from Fulton County
The New York State Department of Financial Services is the place to verify any lender's New York license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. State-level detail for Fulton County borrowers is in the New York guide.
Checklist for Fulton County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Fulton County credit union about member loans.
Other New York guides
Next step up from Fulton County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Fulton County a high-income county?
Its $66,533 median ranks 48th of 62 New York counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Fulton County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $912 against $1,621 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Can Fulton County owners borrow against a $163,100 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live near Gloversville. Which guide is mine?
This one. Gloversville and the rest of Fulton County have no separate city guide.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Fulton County or elsewhere in New York, the same rules apply.