6  Demographic Summary

6.1 Demographic Characteristics

6.1.1 Population

In 2023, New York State’s (NYS) population was nearly 20 million. When excluding New York City (NYC), the population was 11,356,117. The Mid-Hudson (M-H) Region made up 12.1% of NYS’ population and includes the seven counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. Westchester County comprised the largest portion of the M-H Region’s population at 41.6%, while Sullivan County made up only 3.3% of the M-H Region’s population Table 6.1.

The population of the M-H Region grew 4.7% from 2010 to 2020. In those 10 years, growth increased most rapidly in Rockland (7.9%) and Orange (7.1%). Putnam (-2.1%), and Ulster (-0.4%) had negative growth (1).

Table 6.1: Population Demographic Characteristics, 2023
County Total Population Percent of Mid-Hudson Region Percent of NYS
Dutchess 297,144 12.4 1.5
Orange 403,840 16.9 2.0
Putnam 97,988 4.1 0.5
Rockland 338,936 14.1 1.7
Sullivan 79,147 3.3 0.4
Ulster 182,109 7.6 0.9
Westchester 996,888 41.6 5.0
Mid-Hudson 2,396,052 100.0 12.1
NYS excl NYC 11,356,117 N/A 57.1
NYS 19,872,318 N/A 100.0

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S0101, April 2025

6.1.2 Sex

When stratifying the population by sex in 2023, the M-H Region had a near-even distribution between males and females Table 6.2. Apart from Putnam and Sullivan Counties, the M-H Region had a slightly higher percentage of females than males. The same is true for NYS, as well as NYS excluding NYC.

Table 6.2: Population by Sex, 2023
Male Female
Area Total Population % Total Population %
Dutchess 147,902 49.8 149,242 50.2
Orange 201,512 49.9 202,328 50.1
Putnam 49,503 50.5 48,485 49.5
Rockland 167,624 49.5 171,312 50.5
Sullivan 40,993 51.8 38,154 48.2
Ulster 90,719 49.8 91,390 50.2
Westchester 485,985 48.8 510,903 51.2
Mid-Hudson 1,184,238 49.4 1,211,814 50.6
NYS excl NYC 5,614,391 49.4 5,741,726 50.6
NYS 9,702,417 48.8 10,169,902 51.2

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03002, April 2025

NoteNote

The American Community Survey includes a question that intends to capture current sex; there are no questions about gender, sexual orientation, or sex at birth. Respondents should respond either “male” or “female” based on how they currently identify their sex.

6.1.3 Age

Throughout the M-H Region, adults aged 50 to 59 years made up the largest portion of the population (13.8%) Table 6.3. Children aged less than five years and five to nine years, as well as adults aged 40 to 49 years and 60 to 69 years, were similarly distributed throughout the M-H Region, with Ulster County having the greatest difference between adults aged 60 to 69 years and children less than five years old (14.4% vs 4.4%).

Table 6.3: Population by Age, 2023
<5 years 5-9 years 10-19 years 20-29 years 30-39 years 40-49 years 50-59 years 60-69 years 70-79 years >80 years <18 years
Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population %
Dutchess 13,613 4.6 14,448 4.9 37,031 12.5 38,178 12.8 35,520 12.0 36,796 12.4 43,025 14.5 41,707 14.0 23,935 8.1 12,891 4.3 55,342 18.6
Orange 27,143 6.7 27,679 6.9 61,718 15.3 52,658 13.0 48,459 12.0 49,782 12.3 52,995 13.1 45,285 11.2 25,081 6.2 13,040 3.2 103,740 25.7
Putnam 4,521 4.6 4,320 4.4 12,426 12.7 10,922 11.1 11,264 11.5 13,032 13.3 15,538 15.9 13,386 13.7 8,739 8.9 3,840 3.9 19,180 19.6
Rockland 28,957 8.5 27,051 8.0 52,692 15.5 41,742 12.3 38,885 11.5 36,560 10.8 40,115 11.8 35,529 10.5 23,713 7.0 13,692 4.0 99,733 29.4
Sullivan 4,656 5.9 4,969 6.3 9,343 11.8 9,032 11.4 9,668 12.2 9,486 12.0 11,009 13.9 10,980 13.9 7,087 9.0 2,917 3.7 16,947 21.4
Ulster 7,926 4.4 8,802 4.8 19,831 10.9 22,175 12.2 23,060 12.7 22,177 12.2 26,342 14.5 26,250 14.4 16,546 9.1 9,000 4.9 31,636 17.4
Westchester 53,282 5.3 57,324 5.8 129,780 13.0 115,269 11.6 121,312 12.2 133,617 13.4 141,210 14.2 121,875 12.2 74,727 7.5 48,492 4.9 214,739 21.5
Mid-Hudson 140,098 5.8 144,593 6.0 322,821 13.5 289,976 12.1 288,168 12.0 301,450 12.6 330,234 13.8 295,012 12.3 179,828 7.5 103,872 4.3 541,317 22.6
NYS excl NYC 604,728 5.3 640,751 5.6 1,454,784 12.8 1,442,397 12.7 1,393,651 12.3 1,343,897 11.8 1,566,110 13.8 1,485,429 13.1 919,800 8.1 504,570 4.4 2,369,080 20.9
NYS 1,102,961 5.6 1,102,946 5.6 2,413,200 12.1 2,658,703 13.4 2,751,639 13.8 2,422,399 12.2 2,638,363 13.3 2,425,309 12.2 1,511,287 7.6 845,512 4.3 4,109,277 20.7

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S0101, April 2025

6.1.4 Ethnicity and Race

In 2023, the majority of the population in the M-H Region and NYS were non-Hispanic White (58.5% and 53.4%, respectively). The Hispanic population was the second most predominant racial and ethnic group, followed by the non-Hispanic Black population. Within the M-H Region, Westchester County had the highest Hispanic population (27.0%), the highest non-Hispanic Black population (12.9%), and the highest non-Hispanic Asian population (6.0%). Westchester County’s racial and ethnic profile is most like that of NYS’; however, the percentage of non-Hispanic Whites significantly increases when looking at NYS excluding NYC Table 6.4 and Table 6.5.

Table 6.4: Population by Ethnicity, 2023
Hispanic Non-Hispanic
Area Total Population % Total Population %
Dutchess 44,153 14.9 252,991 85.1
Orange 93,608 23.2 310,232 76.8
Putnam 18,676 19.1 79,312 80.9
Rockland 67,951 20.0 270,985 80.0
Sullivan 14,544 18.4 64,603 81.6
Ulster 21,562 11.8 160,547 88.2
Westchester 269,085 27.0 727,803 73.0
Mid-Hudson 529,579 22.1 1,866,473 77.9
NYS excl NYC 1,478,113 13.0 9,878,004 87.0
NYS 3,898,652 19.6 15,973,667 80.4

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03002, April 2025

NoteNote

The Census Bureau collects ethnic data in accordance with guidelines provided by the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and these data are based on self-identification. For ethnicity, the OMB standards classify individuals in one of two categories: “Hispanic or Latino” or “Not Hispanic or Latino.” The Census Bureau uses the term “Hispanic or Latino” interchangeably with the term “Hispanic,” and also refer to this concept as “ethnicity.

Table 6.5: Population by Race, 2023
Non-Hispanic White Non-Hispanic Black or African American Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native Non-Hispanic Asian Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic Other Non-Hispanic Two or More Races
Area Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population %
Dutchess 199,670 67.2 28,024 9.4 222 0.07 10,044 3.4 117 0.04 2,206 0.70 12,708 4.3
Orange 239,186 59.2 42,478 10.5 438 0.11 11,223 2.8 26 0.01 2,563 0.60 14,318 3.5
Putnam 70,948 72.4 2,894 3.0 81 0.08 2,255 2.3 24 0.02 788 0.80 2,322 2.4
Rockland 205,539 60.6 35,626 10.5 181 0.05 19,772 5.8 38 0.01 1921 0.60 7,908 2.3
Sullivan 53,145 67.1 6,263 7.9 120 0.15 1,584 2.0 11 0.01 533 0.70 2,947 3.7
Ulster 133,874 73.5 10,347 5.7 66 0.04 3,675 2.0 40 0.02 2,242 1.20 10,303 5.7
Westchester 498,855 50.0 128,199 12.9 1,197 0.12 59,912 6.0 96 0.01 10,638 1.10 28,906 2.9
Mid-Hudson 1,401,217 58.5 253,831 10.6 2,305 0.10 108,465 4.5 352 0.01 20,891 0.90 79,412 3.3
NYS excl NYC 7,942,876 69.9 934,322 8.2 21,069 0.19 518,716 4.6 2,610 0.02 70,553 0.60 387,858 3.4
NYS 10,608,842 53.4 2,708,094 13.6 37,212 0.19 1,754,957 8.8 6,220 0.03 178,956 0.90 679,386 3.4

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03002, April 2025

NoteNote

The Census Bureau collects racial data in accordance with guidelines provided by the US Office of Management and Budget, and these data are based on self-identification. People who identify with more than one race may choose to provide multiple races in response to the race question.

6.1.5 Spoken Language

According to the American Community Survey, the base population for the spoken language demographic category was people aged five years and older. Of this population, English was the most common spoken language in the M-H Region and NYS. A significant portion of the population spoke a language other than English at home, specifically in Rockland and Westchester Counties (43.6% and 34.3%, respectively). The Spanish speaking population was highest in Westchester County (21.0%) compared to the other counties in the M-H Region Table 6.6.

Table 6.6: Population by Spoken Language, 2023
Only English Language other than English Spanish Other Indo-European languages Asian and Pacific Islander languages Other languages
Area Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population %
Dutchess 238,585 84.1 44,946 15.9 26,003 9.2 10,769 3.8 5,267 1.9 2,907 1.00
Orange 266,545 70.8 110,152 29.2 55,418 15.0 45,346 12.0 6,298 1.7 3,090 0.80
Putnam 73,860 79.0 19,607 21.0 11,733 13.0 5,687 6.1 1,504 1.6 683 0.70
Rockland 174,907 56.4 135,072 43.6 46,360 15.0 69,600 22.5 12,024 3.9 7,088 2.30
Sullivan 59,484 79.9 15,007 20.1 8,639 12.0 4,877 6.5 819 1.1 672 0.90
Ulster 152,966 87.8 21,217 12.2 11,924 6.8 5,602 3.2 2,679 1.5 1,012 0.60
Westchester 619,503 65.7 324,103 34.3 196,271 21.0 78,915 8.4 32,889 3.5 16,028 1.70
Mid-Hudson 1,585,850 54.2 670,104 22.9 356,348 12.2 220,796 7.5 61,480 2.1 31,480 1.10
NYS excl NYC 8,808,643 69.4 1,942,746 15.3 940,527 12.2 632,717 5.0 258,104 2.0 111,398 0.90
NYS 13,017,480 69.4 5,751,878 30.6 2,762,664 15.0 1,679,571 8.9 958,133 5.1 351,510 1.90

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1601, April 2025

NoteNote

The American Community Survey asks respondents to report whether they sometimes or always spoke a language other than English at home. People who spoke languages other than English but did not use them at home, who only used them elsewhere, or whose usage was limited to a few expressions or slang were excluded.

6.1.6 Educational Attainment

According to the American Community Survey, the base population for the educational attainment demographic category were people aged 25 years and older Table 6.7. Of this population, when looking at the M-H Region, NYS, and NYS excluding NYC, the largest portion of residents had a high school degree (22.4%, 24.6%, and 25.8%, respectively) Table 6.7.

Table 6.7: Population by Educational Attainment, 2023
Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, no diploma High school graduate or equivalent Some college, no degree Associate degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree
Area N % N % N % N % N % N % N %
Dutchess 6,262 3.0 11,055 5.2 52,992 25.1 35,689 16.9 21,410 10.1 44,414 21.0 39,558 18.7
Orange 10,091 3.9 16,609 6.4 72,466 28.0 49,355 19.1 26,722 10.3 46,977 18.2 36,412 14.1
Putnam 2,255 3.2 2,536 3.6 17,647 24.8 11,728 16.5 6,002 8.4 17,222 24.2 13,759 19.3
Rockland 11,800 5.7 13,858 6.6 45,118 21.6 33,790 16.2 16,169 7.8 48,405 23.2 39,454 18.9
Sullivan 2,755 4.9 4,129 7.4 16,623 29.8 9,973 17.9 5,728 10.3 9,476 17.0 7,077 12.7
Ulster 3,463 2.6 7,622 5.7 37,570 28.0 22,968 17.1 12,934 9.6 27,094 20.2 22,674 16.9
Westchester 37,761 5.4 36,459 5.2 124,954 17.9 87,534 12.6 44,393 6.4 181,482 26.0 184,619 26.5
Mid-Hudson 74,387 4.5 92,268 5.6 367,370 22.4 251,037 15.3 133,358 8.1 375,070 22.9 343,553 21.0
NYS excl NYC 300,738 3.8 403,754 5.1 2,039,454 25.8 1,277,348 16.2 847,708 10.7 1,643,943 20.8 1,392,540 17.6
NYS 836,124 6.0 862,413 6.2 3,437,438 24.6 2,081,783 14.9 1,242,877 8.9 3,083,769 22.0 2,451,734 17.5

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1501, April 2025

NoteNote

The Census Bureau defines educational attainment as the highest level of education that an individual has completed. This is distinct from the level of schooling that an individual is attending.

Within the seven counties of the M-H Region, Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland Counties had the highest percentage of people with bachelor’s degrees (26.0%, 24.2%, and 23.2%, respectively), while Sullivan had the lowest percentage (17.0 %). Sullivan, Orange, and Dutchess Counties had the highest percentage of people with associate degrees (10.3%, 10.3%, and 10.1%, respectively). A significant portion of the population in the M-H Region were high school graduates or held a bachelor’s degree Table 6.7.

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1501, April 2025

NoteNote

The Census Bureau defines educational attainment as the highest level of education that an individual has completed. This is distinct from the level of schooling that an individual is attending.

6.1.7 Income

Income can affect many aspects of life. This includes where people are able to live, the food and health care coverage available, and almost every other social determinant of health (2).

According to the American Community Survey, the base population for the income demographic category were households (all the persons who occupy a housing unit as their usual place of residence) Table 6.8.

Table 6.8: Total Households, 2023
Households
Dutchess 115,184
Orange 137,311
Putnam 35,054
Rockland 103,284
Sullivan 30,215
Ulster 73,105
Westchester 370,256
Mid-Hudson 864,409
NYS excl NYC 4,355,640
NYS 7,668,956

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1901, April 2025

NoteNote

The American Community Survey defines a household as all the people who occupy a housing unit, such as a house or apartment, as their usual place of residence (the place where they live most of the time). This includes both related family members and any unrelated people living in the same unit.

Of this population, the largest portion of households in the M-H Region had an income greater than $100,000 in 2023. More than one fifth of the households in Putnam County were making between $100,000 and $149,999 in 2023 (20.9%). There were many households with an income between $50,000 and $74,999 in the M-H Region and NYS; 17.0% of households in Sullivan County had an income within this bracket Table 6.9.

Table 6.9: Households by Income, 2023
<$10,000 $10,000-$14,999 $15,000-$24,999 $25,000-$34,999 $35,000-$49,999 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000-$99,999 $100,000-$149,999 $150,000-$199,999 >$200,000
Area Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population % Total Population %
Dutchess 4,723 4.1 2,649 2.3 5,298 4.6 6,105 5.3 9,906 8.6 15,780 13.7 14,513 12.6 22,346 19.4 13,822 12.0 20,042 17.4
Orange 5,492 4.0 4,119 3.0 8,651 6.3 7,003 5.1 10,985 8.0 18,125 13.2 16,340 11.9 27,188 19.8 18,125 13.2 21,421 15.6
Putnam 841 2.4 631 1.8 1,472 4.2 1,402 4.0 2033 5.8 3,926 11.2 3,365 9.6 7,326 20.9 5,503 15.7 8,553 24.4
Rockland 3,822 3.7 2,169 2.1 5,784 5.6 5,474 5.3 7,746 7.5 11,878 11.5 10,328 10.0 18,281 17.7 12,394 12.0 25,408 24.6
Sullivan 1,420 4.7 1,481 4.9 2,327 7.7 2,447 8.1 3,384 11.2 5,137 17.0 3,807 12.6 4,442 14.7 2,478 8.2 3,293 10.9
Ulster 4,021 5.5 2,778 3.8 4,606 6.3 4,752 6.5 7,384 10.1 10,527 14.4 8,334 11.4 13,378 18.3 7,384 10.1 9,942 13.6
Westchester 17,402 4.7 9,997 2.7 17,032 4.6 15,180 4.1 27,029 7.3 37,766 10.2 36,285 9.8 59,241 16.0 39,988 10.8 110,336 29.8
Mid-Hudson 37,721 4.4 23,824 2.8 45,169 5.2 42,364 4.9 68,467 7.9 103,139 11.9 92,973 10.8 152,202 17.6 99,694 11.5 198,996 23.0
NYS excl NYC 201,885 4.6 142,135 3.3 266,550 6.1 266,736 6.1 402,990 9.3 617,645 14.2 516,423 11.9 781,447 17.9 466,426 10.7 701,072 16.1
NYS 437,130 5.7 314,427 4.1 498,482 6.5 475,475 6.2 697,875 9.1 1,058,316 13.8 874,261 11.4 1,288,385 16.8 774,565 10.1 1,257,709 16.4

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1901, April 2025

NoteNote

The American Community Survey asks respondents their income in the past 12 months. Data are provided as a percentage of total households in Table S1901. Calculations were made to provide data as a number in Table 6.8.

6.1.8 Veteran Status

Veteran status includes men and women who served, but are not currently serving, on active duty in the United States (US) Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard, or who served in the US Merchant Marines during World War II. Some issues that veterans experience following their service include finding a new career path, reestablishing themselves in society and families, and seeking treatment for mental health issues (3). In the M-H Region, Sullivan County had the highest percentage of civilian veterans (6.0%), double the percentage of civilian veterans in Rockland and Westchester Counties (3.0% in each) Table 6.10. Overall, there is a smaller percentage of civilian veterans in the M-H Region compared to NYS excluding NYC (3.9% vs 5.3%, respectively).

Table 6.10: Population by Veteran Status, 2023
Civilian Population 18 Years and Older Civilian Veterans
Area Total Population Total Population %
Dutchess 241,517 11,694 4.8
Orange 296,319 16,695 5.6
Putnam 78,712 3,320 4.2
Rockland 239,088 7,130 3.0
Sullivan 62,181 3,713 6.0
Ulster 150,409 6,711 4.5
Westchester 781,837 23,744 3.0
Mid-Hudson 1,850,063 73,007 3.9
NYS excl NYC 8,964,773 478,417 5.3
NYS 15,737,168 607,728 3.9

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S2101, April 2025

NoteNote

The American Community Survey asks respondents if they have ever served on active duty in the US Armed Forces.

6.1.9 Disability

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), disability bears three dimensions: impairment to body structure or mental function; activity limitation, such as difficulty hearing, moving, or problem-solving; and participation restrictions in daily activities, such as working, engaging in social or recreational activities, or accessing health care and preventive services (4). Adults with a disability typically have higher rates of chronic disease, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes (5). Structural and societal barriers can limit the ability to participate in work, recreation, and programs aimed at promoting healthy living for those living with a disability.

Various types of disabilities can affect an individual’s quality of life. Types of disability include:

  • Independent living disability – difficulty performing tasks or errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition

  • Cognitive disability – serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition

  • Self-care disability – difficulty handling tasks, such as dressing or bathing on one’s own

  • Ambulatory disability – difficulty moving around physically, such as walking or climbing stairs

  • Hearing disability – deafness or serious difficulty hearing

  • Vision disability – blindness or serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses

In the M-H Region, Sullivan County had the highest percentage of adults living with a disability (15.9%), as well as the highest percentage of adults living with each of the six types of disabilities; Rockland County had the lowest percentage of adults living with a disability (8.7%) Table 6.11.

Table 6.11: Percentage of Population by Type of Disability, 2023
Total with Any Disability Hearing Difficulty Vision Difficulty Cognitive Difficulty Ambulatory Difficulty Self-Care Difficulty Independent Living Difficulty
Dutchess 12.2 3.5 2.0 4.7 6.3 2.6 5.9
Orange 11.7 3.2 2.1 5.4 6.3 2.9 6.2
Putnam 9.6 2.8 1.4 3.5 5.4 2.4 4.6
Rockland 8.7 2.7 1.4 3.4 4.4 2.2 4.5
Sullivan 15.9 4.4 3.0 6.4 9.1 3.7 7.2
Ulster 14.4 4.2 2.3 5.1 7.4 3.0 6.0
Westchester 9.5 2.5 1.6 3.7 5.3 2.3 4.8
Mid-Hudson 10.2 2.8 1.7 3.8 5.2 2.3 3.9
NYS 11.6 2.8 2.1 4.5 6.6 2.7 5.7

US Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1810, April 2025

NoteNote

Respondents who report any one of the six disability types are considered to have a disability in the American Community Survey.

1.
United States Census Bureau. 2025 [cited 2025 Aug]. Available from: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=decennial%20population&g=0500000US36027%248600000,36071%248600000,36079%248600000,36087%248600000,36105%248600000,36111%248600000,36119%248600000&d=DEC%20Summary%20File%201&tid=DECENNIALSF12010.P1
2.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2013 [cited 2025 Aug]. Available from: https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2012/12/how-does-employment--or-unemployment--affect-health-.html
3.
Blinded Veterans Association. 2019 [cited 2025 Aug]. Available from: https://bva.org/challenges-veterans-face-when-leaving-the-military/
4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2025 [cited 2025 Aug]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/about/
5.
New York State Department of Health. 2019 [cited 2025 Aug]. Available from: https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/prevention/injury_prevention/information_for_action/docs/2019-12_ifa_report.pdf