Cold Brook Feed Mill · National Register of Historic Places
Russia’s story
217 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1869.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1809Russia is settled
RussiaNY
Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
8 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,269
2025 Census estimate · −0.1% since 2020
Median home value
$232K
Census ACS
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
43.9
years
Jobs based here
126
A commuter town
Is Russia a good place to live?
The best of Russia’s subject grades are an A for history and an A− for the outdoors; the weakest is a D for walkability. On walkability, just 73 of New York’s 1,216 towns do worse. Russia’s average trip to work is 33 minutes, above both New York’s towns (25 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). 16% of the land in Russia is conserved, above both New York’s towns (5.2%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Hinckley State Forest, at 1,574 acres with 12.5 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Russia has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Russia stand out
Where Russia beats most towns.
A shrinking town
Russia has shrunk 12% since 2010
2,587 counted in 2010 and 2,269 in 2020; an estimated 2,269 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Russia grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Russia is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 3.2 of 20; 6.1% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →Jobs & income$86K median household incomeC+Open →HealthWynn Hospital 16.3 miles awayBOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 41% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →SchoolsB−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $232K, 3.3 years of the Utica metro’s $70K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA−Open →History2 places on the National RegisterAOpen →Civic life2.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Russia: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Russia, and how to reach them.
PowerNational Grid19.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPoland Village water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers84% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Russia’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 hereHerkimer County Board of ElectionsHerkimer County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes13431, 13324, 13438, 1330413431 42% · 13324 33% · 13438 22% · 13304 2%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 Russia.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
With 0.1 jobs for every working resident, most of Russia’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Russia for work: only 3% work in town. Jobs based in Russia grew to 126 in 2023, 71 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Utica (16%), New Hartford (6%) and Deerfield (6%).
3%work in town
| Russia | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 10% | 8% |
| Median household income | $86,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Russia3%
Utica16%
New Hartford6%
Deerfield6%
Whitestown5%
19 mi
median commute distance
126
jobs based in Russia
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 7% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB−
Russia’s schools rank ahead of 53% of New York districts
Its public schools are run by the Poland Central School District. Its two schools are below.
53%of NY districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 256 | B+ |
| Poland Junior-Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 251 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NY on state tests and graduation
15.7%conserved
15.7%
conserved · 6,030 of 38,417 acres
18 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hinckley State Forest | 12.5 mi | 1,574 |
| 2. Black River Wild Forest | 0.1 mi | 1,417 |
| 3. Hinckely Day Use Area | — | 573 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Russia
Russia has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Russia’s July high is 78°F.
164″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–30°
Spring31–53°
Summer54–76°
Fall37–57°
Oct 13
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Russia is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns
Russia beats the New York average on 6 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 30% of Russia adults feel lonely.
58%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Russia | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 34% | 35% |
32 measures vs. New York
6 better18 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Russia | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.6% | 17.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.6% | 7.7% |
Wynn Hospital
In Utica · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Russia
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 59% of U.S. communities. Since 2011, 9 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Russia.
41risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
9
paid flood claims since 2011
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 30 attractions →Fort Dayton and 10 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Russia. Close and well known come first.
19 mi LandmarkFort Dayton
20 mi National MonumentFort Stanwix National Monument78K visitors a year
16 mi Stadium & arenaUtica Memorial Auditorium
28 mi Theme parkEnchanted Forest Water Safari
17 mi MuseumMunson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute
16 mi TheatreStanley Theater
20 mi National MonumentFort Stanwix National Monument78K visitors a year16 mi Stadium & arenaUtica Memorial Auditorium28 mi Theme parkEnchanted Forest Water Safari17 mi MuseumMunson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute16 mi TheatreStanley TheaterSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Fort Stanwix National Monument: NPS photo, Public domain · Utica Memorial Auditorium: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Enchanted Forest Water Safari: Arsenalforthewin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stanley Theater: Doug Kerr from Albany, New York, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Russia
18pages on Russia
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Russia
About 3 of every 100 Russia residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Russia for work
Where Russia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
126jobs based in Russia
3%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
2 places in Russia on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Russia
Town in New York, United States
Russia is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 2,269 at the 2020 census, down from 2,587 in 2010. The town is located in the northwestern part of the county and is northeast of Utica. The northern part of the town is in the Adirondack Park.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 60 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,322 ft
- Area code
- 315
Russia’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with Russia.
TrentonDeerfieldRemsenNewportProspectOhioPolandNorwayRussia
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NY rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | — | — | B− | — | B− | B |
| Trenton | #231 | B+ | B− | — | B | B+ |
| Deerfield | #144 | A− | B | — | B+ | C+ |
| Remsen | — | — | B+ | — | B− | B |
| Newport | — | — | A− | — | B− | B |
| Prospect | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ohio | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Poland | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Russia, Remsen and Newport have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Russia, Trenton, Deerfield, Remsen and Newport report no FBI crime data of their own. Prospect, Ohio and Poland aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Russia with a neighbor →
Questions about Russia
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Russia, NY a good place to live?
Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Russia, NY expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.