Albany, NY Local Data & Statistics

State: NY

Total population: 100,492 Household income: $61,986 Rent: $1,216

Overview

Total population

100,492

Rent

$1,216

Year built

1949

Household income

$61,986

Per capita income

$37,843

Poverty rate

22.9%

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Household size

2.0 persons

Rent over 30% of income

49.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

New York

Total population

100,492

Adults over 25

63,874

Total households

44,357

Household size

2.0 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$61,986

Per capita income

$37,843

Poverty rate

22.9%

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Rent over 30% of income

49.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,216

Year built

1949

Households that rent

61.8%

Households that own

38.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

51.7%

Black

26%

Asian

8.2%

Two or more races

8.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

11%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.8%

Commute time to work

20 mins

Work from home

13.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

23.8%

High school graduate or GED

21.1%

Some college or associate degree

9.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

45.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Albany, NY with: New York State United States

Albany, NY

Total population100,492

Rent$1,216

Year built1949

Household income$61,986

Per capita income$37,843

Poverty rate22.9%

Unemployment rate3.5%

New York State

Total population19,852,366

Rent$1,621

Year built1959

Household income$85,974

Per capita income$50,712

Poverty rate14%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityAlbany, NY	StateNew York	CountryUnited States
Total population	100,492	19,852,366	334,922,499
Rent	$1,216	$1,621	$1,413
Year built	1949	1959	1980
Household income	$61,986	$85,974	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,843	$50,712	$44,673
Poverty rate	22.9%	14%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.5%	4.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Albany, NY, New York and United States →

Summary for Albany, NY

Albany is located in New York.

Rent & Income

In Albany, the typical monthly rent is $1,216 and the typical household income is $61,986. Rent here is lower than in both New York and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 22.9%, which is higher than in both New York and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 61.8% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 49.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 45.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is lower than both New York and the national rate.

Albany, NY — Rent vs Household Income

Albany, NY — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Albany, NY compares in New York State (13 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,216	7 / 13	from lower rent	$951 – $2,269
Household income	$61,986	7 / 13	from higher income	$47,213 – $110,763
Poverty rate	22.9%	7 / 13	from lower poverty	10.1% – 28.8%
Unemployment rate	3.5%	4 / 13	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 5.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in New York State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Albany, NY

Rent

In rent comparisons, Albany comes in 7th out of 13 large places. Across New York, rents vary from $951 in Utica, NY to $2,269 in White Plains, NY.

Household income

Looking at household income, Albany places 7th out of 13 significant areas. Incomes across New York range between $47,213 in Rochester, NY and $110,763 in White Plains, NY.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Albany ranks 7th out of 13 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 10.1% in New Rochelle, NY to 28.8% in Syracuse, NY.

Unemployment rate

Albany places 4th among 13 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.8% to 5.2%.

💰 Rent in Albany, NY (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,216 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Albany, NY

Annual Household Income: $61,986

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Albany, NY

Estimated Rate: 22.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Albany, NY

In Albany, NY, households that rent: 27,413 (61.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	27,413	61.8%
Owner-Occupied	16,944	38.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Albany, NY

In Albany, NY, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 13,592 (49.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	13,592	49.6%
Other renter households	13,821	50.4%
Total renter households	27,413	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Albany, NY

Less than High School: 15,226 people (23.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 13,498 people (21.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,203 people (9.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 28,947 people (45.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 63,874

📊 Unemployment Rate in Albany, NY

Estimated Rate: 3.5%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Carmel, IN100,501 Norwalk, CA100,713 New Bedford, MA100,731 Hesperia, CA100,141 Lynn, MA100,905 Fishers, IN100,918 Davenport, IA101,083 Buckeye, AZ99,844 Quincy, MA101,361 Bend, OR101,472

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.