What stands out worked out from the figures below

Menands has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Albany has the most homeowners (38.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Menands	Albany
People
Population	4,505Lowest	100,492Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	33±7.4Highest 17% below NY	32±0.6Lowest 20% below NY
	Menands and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±7.6Highest NY: 20.5%	13.9%±0.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Menands and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%	14%±0.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Menands and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	45.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 7%	17.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,583±$11kHighest 6% below NY	$61,986±$3kLowest 28% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,300±$64kHighest 36% below NY	$234,700±$7kLowest 45% below NY
	Menands and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,414±$50Highest 13% below NY	$1,216±$37Lowest 25% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,866Highest 11% below NY	$5,091Lowest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.6%±17.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±3.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Albany and Menands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%	22.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	31.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	38.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 35% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	18%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Menands and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#355 of 484 in NY
School district	—	NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS · ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	15.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.