What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

Albany has the most expensive homes ($235k 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.

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

Measure	Troy	Albany
People
Population	51,033Lowest	100,492Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.3±1.1Highest 19% below NY	32±0.6Lowest 20% below NY
	Troy and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%	13.9%±0.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	13.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	14%±0.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Albany and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	45.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.6%±1Lowest NY: 7%	17.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
	Albany and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,477±$5kLowest 32% below NY	$61,986±$3kHighest 28% below NY
	Albany and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,500±$10kLowest 51% below NY	$234,700±$7kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$29Lowest 28% below NY	$1,216±$37Highest 25% below NY
	Albany and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,749Lowest 28% below NY	$5,091Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±5.1Highest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Troy and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.4%Highest NY: 14%	22.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	38.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1949Highest 10 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 35% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	14.5%±2Highest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Troy 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	#284 of 484 in NY	#355 of 484 in NY
School district	LANSINGBURGH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · TROY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS · ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	TROY HIGH SCHOOL	ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	15.2Highest
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.