Jefferson County, NY Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Jefferson County, NY

Low

Soil across 68.8% of Jefferson County, NY comes back "Low" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 2.98% linear extensibility. That's as favorable a county-level reading as this dataset produces - standard foundation practice, pending one lot's own geotechnical report.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Jefferson County, NY - never a reading for one specific parcel. A local geotechnical report, typically $1,000-$5,000 (around $2,700 typical), is the only way to know what one lot in Jefferson County will actually do.

Jefferson County: the real numbers

Jefferson County's soil reading points toward standard foundation practice as the likely outcome, not the exception. A geotechnical report runs $1,000-$5,000, typically around $2,700. Foundation repair, if a specific lot turns out to differ from the county average, runs $5,000-$15,000.

Where this sits nationally

Among the 3,085 rated counties on this site, Jefferson County, NY ranks 1,207 most-constrained nationally, and 1 of 62 within New York. Jefferson County covers 1,268 square miles and counts 113,140 residents.

For contrast

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Deuel County, SD and Salem County, NJ are worth a look for comparison.

How this reading is built, and its real limits · Moisture management: the cheap fix that works on any soil

Elsewhere in New York

Every county in New York is on this site, including Delaware County, NY and Seneca County, NY. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.