Jefferson County, New York: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Jefferson County is worth $181,000, property taxes on it run about $2,851 a year (1.58%), the FHA loan limit is $541,287, and closing on it means about $722 in transfer tax plus $1,391 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $181,000 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $2,851 a year, 1.58% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $541,287 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $722 | New York transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $1,070 owner's + $321 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $2,113 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $86,600; low-income limit $71,900 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Jefferson County?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson County is valued at $181,000, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Jefferson County?
The median Jefferson County homeowner pays $2,851 a year in real estate taxes, about 1.58% of the median home value ($3,089 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Jefferson County?
$541,287 for a one-unit home in 2026 (the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Jefferson County?
On the $181,000 median home: transfer tax $722, title insurance $1,391 for both policies, about $2,113 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Jefferson County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Jefferson County (Watertown-Fort Drum, NY MSA) is $86,600. A family of four counts as low income below $71,900 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby New York counties
- Greene County $248,300
- Hamilton County $242,000
- Herkimer County $135,000
- Kings County $905,000
- Lewis County $158,000
- Livingston County $169,600
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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