Study discusses how the county can meet the housing need for potential growing workforce, aging residents and future development
By Natalie Glosek
With unprecedented economic and population growth on the horizon and a lack of new housing development, the Central New York housing market has seen some of the fastest rising prices in the country over the past few years.
In late 2024, local government and economic development partners — including the Oswego County Legislature and the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency (IDA) — determined that housing availability within the county could become a barrier to fully realizing the benefits of the region’s economic growth, making it essential to better understand existing housing conditions and future demand. This was the catalyst for the Oswego County Housing Needs Assessment & Development Strategy, which provides a blueprint for how the county can meet the housing need for our growing workforce, aging residents and future development.
Why Plan Now?
Much of the anticipated economic and population growth is tied to the multi-decade $100 billion semiconductor investment by Micron Technology in Clay. The project is expected to create approximately 9,000 direct jobs on-site, more than 40,000 indirect jobs across the region. Experts project that the regional population could increase by 75,000 to 100,000 residents over the next 20 years.
With the Oswego County border located just a few miles from the Micron site and many communities in the county having room to grow, business and community leaders agree that understanding housing availability now will help ensure the region is prepared for future demand.
In addition to Micron’s investment, emerging energy opportunities — such as a potential advanced nuclear power generation facility in Scriba — could also generate additional job growth and increase both short–term and long-term housing demand.
While New York state previously conducted a housing analysis for the broader Central New York region, local leaders determined a more detailed study was needed to reflect Oswego County’s unique mix of rural communities, villages and urban centers along with our availability of public infrastructure.
The study, funded and led by Oswego County and the IDA, analyzes housing supply, affordability and projected demand across the region. The goal of the partners was to better understand the county’s current housing conditions and identify what will be needed to ensure high-quality housing options for both current residents and those expected to move to the region in the coming years. The findings of the study aim to guide future development and policy decisions at the local municipality and county level.
The county and IDA hired MRB Group to conduct the study because of its success in completing housing assessments in rural counties and communities. Because of the county’s geographic diversity, the study divided the county into seven sub-regions to provide more localized analysis and recommendations.
A committee made up of public and private sector stakeholders — including builders, banking professionals, real estate experts, nonprofits and economic and community development leaders — worked together for nearly a year alongside MRB Group to shape the housing needs assessment and development strategies. The research included surveys of the general public, businesses and schools, along with interviews with community leaders and elected officials and detailed demographic and housing data analysis.
Housing Needs Assessment Findings
The study highlighted four major housing priorities for the county: workforce housing for incoming employees and construction workers, expanded housing options for seniors, and middle-market housing solutions to help residents struggling to afford increasing housing prices.
With construction on the Micron project expected to begin in the coming years, Oswego County is anticipated to see increased demand for both single-family homes and rental housing. Initial demand will come from construction workers, creating a need for rental units that can later transition to permanent housing. As Micron’s operations expand, additional rental and single-family homes will be needed for long-term employees.
Beyond housing for incoming workers, the study also highlighted a significant need for additional senior housing across the county. By 2030, the aging population in Oswego County is projected to require an additional 2,100 units, including both single-family and multi-family options.
The study also identified a strong need for middle-market housing throughout the county. The county is looking to add housing options to meet diverse household needs, including townhomes, condos and duplexes.
Housing affordability emerged as a significant challenge, as approximately 45.5% of renter households in Oswego County spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs, placing them in the cost-burdened category. The struggle to afford rental housing is linked to both an aging housing stock and prohibitive construction costs, which together limit the county’s ability to provide high-quality, affordable units.
With the anticipated growth of Micron Technology and the influx of new workers, these affordability pressures are expected to intensify, making it even more critical to implement strategies that expand and preserve affordable housing options.
Development Strategy Solutions
With workforce, senior population and middle-market housing needs identified, along with affordability challenges across the spectrum, the study recommends a series of strategies to guide future development and strengthen Oswego County’s housing opportunities across the region.
The study emphasizes that the Oswego County IDA will play a critical role in implementing strategies to strengthen the county’s housing market. Part of this effort includes reviewing and modifying the IDA’s existing uniform tax exemption policies (UTEPs) and adopting best practices from regions that have seen similar development patterns to better support the identified multi-family and mixed-use development.
At the same time, the county is taking a broader approach to improving housing quality and diversity for residents across income levels and geographies. This includes addressing the condition of existing housing stock with targeted grant and low-cost financing programs, and diversifying the overall housing supply through new construction and making Oswego County more attractive to developers and contractors. By updating zoning, permitting processes and land use regulations it will encourage new housing while preserving current units.
In addition, the county aims to foster new partnerships and expand access to critical infrastructure like water and sewer as well as improving access to reliable public transportation and childcare. These targeted improvements will create development opportunities while maintaining strong community planning.
By combining financial incentives, updated policies and strategic infrastructure planning, the IDA and county leaders aim to create a sustainable, diverse and accessible housing landscape that supports long-term regional growth.
To learn more about the Oswego County Housing Needs Assessment & Development Strategy and view the full report, visit the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency website at www.oswegocountyida.org.
