Compare towns
Rotterdam vs Schenectady vs Ogden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rotterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Schenectady has the most renters (54.4% rent).
Ogden has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Rotterdam | Schenectady | Ogden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,616 |
68,847Highest |
20,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.3Highest about the NY average |
36.1±1Lowest 9% below NY |
39.9±2.3Highest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.1 NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Ogden and Rotterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±1.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Rotterdam and Ogden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.5% NY: 40.2% |
25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
38%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
9.8%±1Highest NY: 7% |
6%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,331±$2k about the NY average |
$58,399±$3kLowest 32% below NY |
$91,563±$7kHighest 7% above NY |
| Ogden and Rotterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$4k 46% below NY |
$168,800±$5kLowest 60% below NY |
$235,200±$13kHighest 45% below NY |
| Ogden and Rotterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 20% below NY |
$1,145±$33Lowest 29% below NY |
$1,233±$75 24% below NY |
| Rotterdam and Ogden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,845Lowest 26% below NY |
$4,874 26% below NY |
$6,496Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±7.9 NY: 52.1% |
58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±7.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest NY: 14% |
23.8%Highest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NY: 54.3% |
45.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 31% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
20 minLowest 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.9%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Rotterdam and Ogden 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 | #137 of 484 in NY | #400 of 484 in NY | #170 of 484 in NY |
| School district | ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SCHALMONT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SPENCERPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | MOHONASEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL | SPENCERPORT HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
13.3 |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.