Potsdam is a small town where college students really create the town feel and character. So many small towns have lost population over the last 20-30 years that having the local college presence in the Potsdam area, with all of the energy of the students filling area dorms and apartments each fall, really helps Potsdam maintain a good economy.
For a small village, there is also a high proportion of single, often educated, people living in Potsdam. This is not typical for smaller communities in America, and adds a feeling of vibrancy to Potsdam.
Compared to the rest of the country, citizens of Potsdam spend much less time in their cars: on average, their commute to work is only 15.93 minutes. This also means that noise and pollution levels in the village are less than they would otherwise be.
As is often the case in a small village, Potsdam doesn't have a public transportation system that people use for their commute.
Potsdam is one of the most well-educated cities in the nation. 48.71% of adults in Potsdam have at least a bachelor's degree. Compare that to the average community in America, which has just 21.84% with a bachelor's degree or higher.
The per capita income in Potsdam in 2022 was $21,053, which is low income relative to New York and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $84,212 for a family of four. However, Potsdam contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.
Potsdam is a somewhat ethnically-diverse village. The people who call Potsdam home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Potsdam residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Potsdam include Irish, German, English, Italian, and French Canadian.
The most common language spoken in Potsdam is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and French.
