Shopping in Cooperstown is a natural extension for the thousands of visitors who come to the Hall of Fame as they stroll down Main Street to Doubleday Field.  Attractive shops line the streets of the shopping district offering a cornucopia of goods and services.  It is estimated that every visitor spends an average of fifty dollars during his or her stay in Otsego County.  A sizeable percentage of that $20,000,000 is spent in the Cooperstown Shopping District!

Residents of the Cooperstown area possess a desirable economic profile.  Income levels exceed averages for our part of the state, as do real estate values and levels of education.  Data provided by Key Bank N.A. and the Otsego County Data Book reveals a population base of 13,366 residents in the 10-mile radius of Cooperstown.  In 1989, the last year for which such statistics are available, the median annual household income was $31,968.  Over 80% of the work force has completed four years of high school and 23% had completed four years+ of college.  The median value of homes is $94,226 with 41% of all households living in homes valued above $100,000.  The unemployment rate in the 10-mile radius is just 2.9%.

Demographics of target groups such as the New York State Historical Association membership indicate that 59% have a household income of $50,000 and above.  For tourist profiles, a 1996 survey conducted at The Farmers' Museum indicates a household income of over $50,000 among 42% of those surveyed.

The next closest shopping area is Oneonta, which is 22 miles away.  A recent survey indicates that residents of the Village prefer to shop locally and are eager to support new businesses.  New additions to the shopping district include a deli, a liquor store and two new clothing stores--all are doing well.   The climate for more businesses offering services for residents is excellent.   And the number of tourists continues to expand.

A much broader resident economic base of 40,000 people exists within a 25 mile range that includes the City of Oneonta, and villages in Schoharie, Madison and Herkimer counties.  Well-maintained scenic roads and the historic ambience of the commercial district provide incentives for these customers to visit the Cooperstown business district.