Saranac Lake: Demographics & People
4,965 people call Saranac Lake home, in 2,542 households. Population shrank 2.6% from 5,099 (2022) to 4,965 (2024). Median age 40.7 years. (1.3y younger than Franklin County; 2.5y older than New York). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 90% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Hispanic or Latino. 40% of households are family-led. County is gaining 238 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.0 people per household (vs New York avg 2.6).
- 60% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs New York 42%).
- 61 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs New York 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 2.6% from 5,099 (2022) to 4,965 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~4,835 (extrapolated at -1.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 4,665.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 37,381 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -2.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 5,099 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 4,965 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 4,965 people (vs New York 8,483,844) |
| Population Estimate | 4,665 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.7y is 1.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.7 years (vs New York 38.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 16.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 4,965 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 824 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,363.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,716.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,062 |
| Population under 18 | 824 |
| Median age | 40.7 years (vs New York 38.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 4,965 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 4,755 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 133 |
| Asian residents | 29 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 172 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 8.1% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Asian population | 1.6% (vs New York 14.6%) |
| Black population | 0.8% (vs New York 20.4%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.6% (vs New York 28.5%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 90.3% (vs New York 31.0%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 3,578 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,272 |
| Share born in this state | 72.1% |
| Share born in another state | 27.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 25.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 40 |
| From Europe | 1 |
| From Africa | 20 |
| From Latin America | 11 |
Households & Family Composition
2,542 households. Averaging 1.9 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 40% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,079 families, 15% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 808 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,079 |
| Married couples with children | 167 |
| Single-parent households | 117 |
| Average household size | 1.94 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 10.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 68 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 13 |
| Family households | 1,030 households (vs New York 1,922,243) |
| Households that are families | 40.5% (vs New York 57.7%) |
| Total households | 2,542 households (vs New York 3,334,088) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 12.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 238 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 12.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 32,268 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 32,030 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 238 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 463 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 9.1% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 194 residents live in group quarters (3.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 194 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 21 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 36031 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 36 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 031 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Essex |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 13.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 10.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 16.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 36031 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Essex County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,328 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 36031 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Essex County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 80.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 74.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 59.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 36,885 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.90 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 3 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 16.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 4,965, declining, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 4,965 people (vs New York 8,483,844) |
| Town Summary · County | Essex County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade