View in Marathon, N.Y, c. 1860
Marathon’s story
197 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1860.
- 1829Marathon is settled
MarathonNY
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
874
2025 Census estimate · −4.4% since 2020
Median home value
$125K
Census ACS
Household income
$52K
median
Median age
30.8
years
Jobs based here
394
Balanced
Is Marathon a good place to live?
Marathon’s median age is 30.8 years, against 43 years in New York’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. Marathon has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Marathon stand out
Where Marathon beats most towns.
Small town
874 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Marathon: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Marathon, and how to reach them.
PowerVillage of MarathonEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterMarathon Village water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers93% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Marathon’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCortland County Board of ElectionsCortland County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code1380313803 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Marathon.
Climate
Marathon has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Marathon has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Marathon’s July high is 80°F, close to New York’s towns (81°F) and below U.S. towns (85°F).
63″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–33°
Spring33–55°
Summer56–78°
Fall39–59°
Oct 16
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Marathon faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 67% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 29 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Marathon.
67risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
29
paid flood claims since 1979
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Marathon
Most working residents leave Marathon for work: only 5% work in town. The median household income in Marathon is $52,000. Since 2013, Marathon has lost 247 jobs, to 394 in 2023.
5%work in town
| Marathon | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.1% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Marathon5%
Cortland10%
Cortlandville10%
Marathon8%
Cincinnatus7%
19 mi
median commute distance
394
jobs based in Marathon
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Marathon is
Marathon beats the New York average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 18% of Marathon adults report frequent mental distress.
| Marathon | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. New York
1 better22 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Marathon | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 11.8% | 14.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.2% | 6% |
Guthrie Cortland Regional Medical Center
13.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
A home in Marathon sells for about $285K at the median
57% of households own their home in Marathon.
$285Kmedian sale price
| Marathon | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 57% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $778 a month | $1,101 a month | $1,185 a month |
1
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Marathon
17pages on Marathon
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Marathon
State University of New York at CortlandUniversity or college · Public · Cortland13.1 mi$8,874 in-state tuitionTompkins Cortland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Dryden13.4 mi$6,970 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Marathon residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New York.
About Marathon
Town in New York, United States
Marathon is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 1,967 at the 2010 census. The town of Marathon contains a village also named Marathon. The town is on the southern border of the county and is in the Southern tier region of New York State and is southeast of Cortland. The Central New York Maple Festival takes place in Marathon annually.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 25 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,332 ft
Questions about Marathon
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Marathon, NY a good place to live?
Marathon has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Marathon, NY known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Francis G. Brink and Dulcina Mason Jordan.