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Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Cost of living in Jefferson County, NY

Part of the Watertown Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,078/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 116,130 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $977 32%
Healthcare $480 16%
Federal tax $470 15%
Groceries $404 13%
Transport $320 10%
Energy $208 7%
State tax $164 5%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Jefferson County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$889
per month
1 bedroom
$977
per month
2 bedroom
$1,282
per month
3 bedroom
$1,740
per month
4 bedroom
$2,133
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Jefferson County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$64,978
per year
Individual earnings
$38,823
per year
Per capita
$34,603
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Jefferson County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$181,000
Annual property tax
$2,851

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Jefferson County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$140
per month · 23.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$68
per month
Annual total
$2,496
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Jefferson County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.8%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Jefferson County

State and local tax rates for New York.

State income tax
10.9%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
4.0%
Combined sales tax
8.5%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Jefferson County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
19.6 min
Drive alone
77.4%
Public transit
0.5%
Work from home
7.4%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Jefferson County

What it costs to live in Jefferson County each month.

Single person
$3,078
per month
  • Rent $977
  • Energy $208
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $404
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $470
  • State tax $164
Couple
$4,567
per month
  • Rent $1,282
  • Energy $250
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $669
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $733
  • State tax $284
Family
$7,230
per month
  • Rent $1,740
  • Energy $312
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $1,016
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $733
  • State tax $284

Frequently asked questions about Jefferson County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Jefferson County?

In Jefferson County, NY, a one-bedroom apartment averages $977 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,282 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,740 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Jefferson County?

In Jefferson County, NY, the average household income is $64,978 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $38,823 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Jefferson County?

The estimated cost of living in Jefferson County, NY is approximately $3,078 per month for a single person, $4,567 for a couple, $7,230 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Jefferson County?

The combined sales tax rate in Jefferson County, NY is 8.52%, which includes the New York state rate of 4.00% plus an average local rate of 4.52%.

Is Jefferson County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Jefferson County, NY would need approximately $3,078 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $64,978 per year ($5,415 per month). Jefferson County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Jefferson County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Jefferson County, NY is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Jefferson County?

The average home value in Jefferson County, NY is $181,000, with average annual property taxes of $2,851, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Jefferson County compare to other areas?

You can compare Jefferson County, NY with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Jefferson County is in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area.

Other counties in New York

Browse the full list of counties in New York, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in New York

Compare Jefferson County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources