What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Troy	Schenectady
People
Population	51,033Lowest	68,847Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.3±1.1Lowest 19% below NY	36.1±1Highest 9% below NY
Kids under 18	17.2%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.9%±1.2Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	13.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	15.1%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Schenectady 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.6%±1Highest NY: 7%	9.8%±1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,477±$5kHighest 32% below NY	$58,399±$3kLowest 32% below NY
	Troy and Schenectady are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,500±$10kHighest 51% below NY	$168,800±$5kLowest 60% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$29Highest 28% below NY	$1,145±$33Lowest 29% below NY
	Troy and Schenectady 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	$4,874Highest 26% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±5.1Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 14%	23.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	45.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1941Highest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	22 minHighest 33% below NY
Work from home	14.5%±2Highest NY: 14.9%	10.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#284 of 484 in NY	#400 of 484 in NY
School district	LANSINGBURGH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · TROY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	TROY HIGH SCHOOL	SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	13.3Highest
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.