Schenectady, NY Local Data & Statistics

State: NY

Total population: 68,847 Household income: $58,399 Rent: $1,145

Overview

Total population

68,847

Rent

$1,145

Year built

1941

Household income

$58,399

Per capita income

$34,175

Poverty rate

23.8%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

55.3%

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

68,847

Adults over 25

46,080

Total households

29,184

Household size

2.2 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

$58,399

Per capita income

$34,175

Poverty rate

23.8%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Rent over 30% of income

55.3%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,145

Year built

1941

Households that rent

54.4%

Households that own

45.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

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

Race

White

49.2%

Black

19.8%

Asian

6.1%

Two or more races

16.1%

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

12.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

87.3%

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

89.1%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

10.9%

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

31%

High school graduate or GED

29.2%

Some college or associate degree

14.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

25.4%

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

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

Schenectady, NY

Total population68,847

Rent$1,145

Year built1941

Household income$58,399

Per capita income$34,175

Poverty rate23.8%

Unemployment rate4.3%

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	CitySchenectady, NY	StateNew York	CountryUnited States
Total population	68,847	19,852,366	334,922,499
Rent	$1,145	$1,621	$1,413
Year built	1941	1959	1980
Household income	$58,399	$85,974	$80,734
Per capita income	$34,175	$50,712	$44,673
Poverty rate	23.8%	14%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	4.3%	4%

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

Summary for Schenectady, NY

Schenectady is located in New York.

Rent & Income

In Schenectady, the typical monthly rent is $1,145 and the typical household income is $58,399. 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 23.8%, which is higher than in both New York and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 54.4% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 55.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 25.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.3%, which is similar to New York and higher than the national rate.

Schenectady, NY — Rent vs Household Income

Schenectady, NY — Poverty vs Unemployment

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

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,145	5 / 13	from lower rent	$951 – $2,269
Household income	$58,399	9 / 13	from higher income	$47,213 – $110,763
Poverty rate	23.8%	9 / 13	from lower poverty	10.1% – 28.8%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	10 / 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 Schenectady, NY

Rent

In rent comparisons, Schenectady comes in 5th out of 13 large places. Across New York, rents vary from $951 in Utica, NY to $2,269 in White Plains, NY.

Household income

Schenectady ranks 9th among 13 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $47,213 in Rochester, NY to $110,763 in White Plains, NY.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Schenectady ranks 9th out of 13 large places. Statewide rates vary from 10.1% in New Rochelle, NY to 28.8% in Syracuse, NY.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Schenectady is ranked 10th out of 13 major areas. Across New York, rates go from 2.8% in White Plains, NY up to 5.2% in New York, NY.

💰 Rent in Schenectady, NY (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,145 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 Schenectady, NY

Annual Household Income: $58,399

💡 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 Schenectady, NY

Estimated Rate: 23.8%

💡 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 Schenectady, NY

In Schenectady, NY, households that rent: 15,865 (54.4%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	15,865	54.4%
Owner-Occupied	13,319	45.6%

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 Schenectady, NY

In Schenectady, NY, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 8,767 (55.3%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	8,767	55.3%
Other renter households	7,098	44.7%
Total renter households	15,865	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 Schenectady, NY

Less than High School: 14,285 people (31%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 13,441 people (29.2%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,640 people (14.4%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 11,714 people (25.4%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 46,080

📊 Unemployment Rate in Schenectady, NY

Estimated Rate: 4.3%

💡 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

San Marcos, TX68,920 Gary, IN68,604 East Orange, NJ69,183 Portland, ME68,505 Gaithersburg, MD69,225 Eau Claire, WI69,274 Shawnee, KS68,175 Eagan, MN68,158 Yuba City, CA69,545 Union City, CA68,141

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.