Compare towns
Albany vs Wright vs Bethlehem vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albany has the youngest population (median age 32).
Wright has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Bethlehem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Albany | Wright | Bethlehem | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 100,492 |
1,739Lowest |
35,139 |
208,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% NY: +4.2% |
-1.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+0.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 32±0.6Lowest 20% below NY |
51.4±4.7Highest 29% above NY |
45.3±2 14% above NY |
33.7±0.5 15% below NY |
| Wright and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±0.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.7%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±1.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
22.2%±1.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±0.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bethlehem and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
64.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
30% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 17.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±0.9 NY: 7% |
8.8%±0.6 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,986±$3k 28% below NY |
$86,250±$13k about the NY average |
$123,893±$9kHighest 44% above NY |
$47,213±$2kLowest 45% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,700±$7k 45% below NY |
$242,000±$36k 43% below NY |
$370,400±$10kHighest 13% below NY |
$139,600±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$37 25% below NY |
$953±$79Lowest 41% below NY |
$1,721±$81Highest 6% above NY |
$1,081±$16 33% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,091 23% below NY |
$5,279 20% below NY |
$7,842Highest 19% above NY |
$3,152Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±3.3 NY: 52.1% |
37.6%±16.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40%±7.6 NY: 52.1% |
53.3%±2.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Rochester and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.9% NY: 14% |
7% NY: 14% |
5%Lowest NY: 14% |
27.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.2% NY: 54.3% |
80.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73% NY: 54.3% |
38.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 10 yrs older than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 39% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
22 min 33% below NY |
19 minLowest 41% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
19.6%±2.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.5%±1.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #355 of 484 in NY | — | #34 of 484 in NY | #458 of 484 in NY |
| School district | NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS · ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | EXPLORATION ELE CS - SCIENCE-TECHNOL · ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL | — | BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | EDISON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
— | 13.0 |
8.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 11 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.