Compare towns
Troy vs Albany vs Schenectady
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Schenectady has the most homeowners (45.6%).
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 | Troy | Albany | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 51,033Lowest |
100,492Highest |
68,847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 32.3±1.1 19% below NY |
32±0.6Lowest 20% below NY |
36.1±1Highest 9% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
13.9%±0.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
14%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Schenectady and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% NY: 40.2% |
45.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.6%±1 NY: 7% |
17.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
9.8%±1Lowest 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±$5k 32% below NY |
$61,986±$3kHighest 28% below NY |
$58,399±$3kLowest 32% 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±$10k 51% below NY |
$234,700±$7kHighest 45% below NY |
$168,800±$5kLowest 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$29 28% below NY |
$1,216±$37Highest 25% below NY |
$1,145±$33Lowest 29% 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 |
$4,874 26% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±5.1 NY: 52.1% |
51.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
58.5%±4.5Highest 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 | 23.4% NY: 14% |
22.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
23.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
38.2% NY: 54.3% |
45.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1949Highest 10 yrs older than NY |
1941 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4Lowest 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 | #400 of 484 in NY |
| School district | LANSINGBURGH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · TROY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS · ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | TROY HIGH SCHOOL | ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
13.3 |
| 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.