Located in Ulster County in the Mid-Hudson Valley, the Kingston metropolitan area has a population of 180,000. Job growth in the area has been steady, but somewhat below the national pace in recent years. Employment in the leisure and hospitality sector has grown faster than overall employment, as the area is within a day trip from New York City and includes part of the Catskill Mountains, with its parks, resorts, and nature activities. The health and education sector has also added jobs to the regional economy, which has helped offset the loss of manufacturing jobs over the past few decades.
Economic and Demographic Trends
| Kingston | Orange-Rockland-Westchester* | Dutchess-Putnam* | New York State | USA | |
| Population1 | 179,000 | 1,691,000 | 395,000 | 19,849,000 | 325,719,000 |
| Pop growth, 10-year change1 | -1.9% | 5.5% | 0.0% | 3.7% | 8.1% |
| GDP, billions2 | $6 | $111 | $15 | $1,500 | $18,510 |
| Job growth, 5-year change1 | 4.6% | 6.5% | 4.6% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Median household income2 | $58,200 | $76,600 | $77,500 | $62,000 | $57,000 |
| Median home price2 | $200,000 | $300,000 | $290,000 | $300,000 | $200,000 |
| Pop share age 25+ with BA+2 | 32.8% | 42.1% | 37.0% | 35.7% | 31.3% |
