Compare towns
Schenectady vs Rotterdam vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Schenectady has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Rotterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Troy has the most renters (62.6% rent).
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 | Schenectady | Rotterdam | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 68,847Highest |
22,695Lowest |
51,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+11.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+2.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 36.1±1 9% below NY |
40±1.4Highest about the NY average |
32.3±1.1Lowest 19% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 NY: 20.5% |
22.2%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Rotterdam and Schenectady are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1 NY: 17.9% |
18.2%±1.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
37.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±1 NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
16.6%±1Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,399±$3kLowest 32% below NY |
$85,887±$3kHighest about the NY average |
$58,477±$5k 32% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,800±$5kLowest 60% below NY |
$214,400±$5kHighest 49% below NY |
$206,500±$10k 51% below NY |
| Rotterdam and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,145±$33Lowest 29% below NY |
$1,278±$78Highest 21% below NY |
$1,175±$29 28% below NY |
| Rotterdam and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,874Highest 26% below NY |
$4,599Lowest 30% below NY |
$4,749 28% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.2%±7.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52.7%±5.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Schenectady and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.8%Highest NY: 14% |
6.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
23.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.6% NY: 54.3% |
76.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
37.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 18 yrs older than NY |
1957Highest 2 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 33% below NY |
22 minHighest 32% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.8%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
14.5%±2 NY: 14.9% |
| Rotterdam and Troy 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 | #400 of 484 in NY | #137 of 484 in NY | #284 of 484 in NY |
| School district | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | LANSINGBURGH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · TROY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL | — | TROY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.