The Albany metro area: Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie counties · Population 906,052 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Albany area
Household size in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The Albany area is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.44 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only three have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.7 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of the Albany area is 41.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.8 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in the Albany area than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Albany area
Renters in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.8% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.8% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.1% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.8% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a third of households in the Albany area rent their homes (35.8%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in New York overall (45.7%). About four in ten owners (40.4%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.3% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in the Albany area is close to the national rate: 9.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 1.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in the Albany area is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1969, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Still, homes here are newer than in New York overall, where the median home dates to 1961. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $882 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $975 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,114 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,360 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$478 | +$698 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the Albany area costs $1,360 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $478 a month from 2006–10, a 54% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.8% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Albany area
Bachelor's degrees in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.9% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.4% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.2% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in the Albany area (42.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.4 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.4% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.0% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Albany area is above the national rate: 93.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. The Albany area has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five large metro areas.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Albany area
| Period | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Albany area is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in New York overall (6.6%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Albany area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany area (all) | 2.33 | 41.7 | 9.8% | 35.8% | 9.3% | 1969 | $1,360 | 42.2% | 93.0% | 5.0% |
| Schenectady | 2.45 | 39.8 | 11.7% | 37.9% | 7.0% | 1960 | $1,322 | 38.6% | 89.8% | 6.8% |
| Troy | 2.24 | 37.2 | 14.9% | 52.3% | 13.5% | 1953 | $1,184 | 37.7% | 90.4% | 7.9% |
| Clifton Park | 2.44 | 42.1 | 8.4% | 29.7% | 6.2% | 1986 | $1,512 | 54.0% | 95.4% | 3.1% |
| Saratoga Springs | 2.17 | 45.5 | 6.6% | 38.9% | 10.1% | 1981 | $1,710 | 56.4% | 95.1% | 2.6% |
| Ballston Spa | 2.42 | 42.4 | 9.5% | 26.4% | 8.7% | 1987 | $1,539 | 43.8% | 94.5% | 3.4% |
| Amsterdam | 2.42 | 41.4 | 13.1% | 39.1% | 15.2% | 1952 | $1,021 | 25.3% | 89.5% | 6.1% |
| Cohoes | 2.24 | 39.6 | 12.7% | 54.6% | 12.6% | 1967 | $1,419 | 34.9% | 92.5% | 6.1% |
| Latham | 2.45 | 38.3 | 8.5% | 31.4% | 4.8% | 1975 | $1,754 | 51.6% | 94.8% | 3.8% |
| Rotterdam | 2.33 | 40.8 | 11.1% | 21.1% | 6.6% | 1958 | $1,210 | 30.3% | 94.1% | 3.1% |
| Rensselaer | 2.32 | 41.9 | 10.5% | 40.2% | 10.9% | 1969 | $1,293 | 35.6% | 91.8% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Worcester area · New Haven area · El Paso area · Baton Rouge area · McAllen area · Knoxville area · Bakersfield area · Albuquerque area · Greenville area · Bridgeport area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Albany area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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