1st Advantage MortgageIn Albany County, New York, the typical household earns $85,333 a year and the typical rent is $1,313. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Albany County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Albany County, NY: the basics
- Albany County housing compared with New York
- Paychecks and income spread in Albany County
- Albany County at the extremes
- Albany County industries and commutes
- Albany County, Schenectady County and other neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Albany County
- Local borrowing considerations for Albany County
- A Albany County household budget, worked through
- Albany County households compared
- Checklist for Albany County applicants
- New York lender licensing
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Albany County, NY: the basics
Roughly 317,018 residents live in Albany County, New York, 14th by population among the state's 62 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 523 square miles, that is close to 606 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metropolitan area. Of the 15 Census places inside Albany County, Albany leads by population with about 100,492; 9 of the 15 are incorporated.
Albany County housing compared with New York
Half of Albany County renters pay more than $1,313 a month and half pay less; the New York midpoint is $1,621. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 47% in Albany County, 52% statewide. Median value $294,600; median income $85,333; ratio 3.5. 57% of Albany County households own their home and 43% rent. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Against the median U.S. county, Albany County rent is 50% above.
| Cost | Albany County | New York figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,313/mo | $1,621/mo | 19% lower |
| Median home value | $294,600 | $423,800 | 30% lower |
| Owners | 57% | 54% | +2.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | -5.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 33% | -10.2 pts |
| Vacant units | 9% | 10% | -1.3 pts |
Paychecks and income spread in Albany County
The median household income in Albany County is $85,333, close to the statewide $85,974. Only 13 New York counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Albany County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.0% | -2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.1% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.3% | +3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.6% | -4.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 43% of Albany County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Poverty rate, Albany County: 13.0%; New York: 14.0%. Albany County scores 0.456 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Albany County median.
Albany County at the extremes
Out of every New York county, Albany County is most unusual on these measures.
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 46% in Albany County. Only 4 of 62 New York counties are higher. Student loan payments count in a debt-to-income ratio, so list them.
- On homeownership, Albany County sits near the bottom of New York at 57%, 7th lowest of 62. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- Few New York counties match Albany County on the uninsured rate: 3.2% here, 5.1% for the state, ranking 8th lowest of 62. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
Albany County industries and commutes
The biggest employer of Albany County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 12% locally and 5% for New York. 5.0% of Albany County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 30% of Albany County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 8% need 45 or more. Only 12.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Albany County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.2% | -1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 12.2% | +7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | +0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | -1.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Albany County, Schenectady County and other neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 32 miles). Albany County's $85,333 median trails 1 of the six and beats 5; the range runs $64,943 (Montgomery County) to $87,915 (Rensselaer County).
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany County | - | $85,333 | $1,313/mo | 57% |
| Schenectady County, NY | 16 mi | $79,623 | $1,194/mo | 64% |
| Greene County, NY | 23 mi | $77,945 | $1,004/mo | 77% |
| Schoharie County, NY | 24 mi | $70,133 | $909/mo | 76% |
| Rensselaer County, NY | 25 mi | $87,915 | $1,217/mo | 65% |
| Columbia County, NY | 29 mi | $81,528 | $1,260/mo | 76% |
| Montgomery County, NY | 32 mi | $64,943 | $940/mo | 70% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Albany County
Places, by size: the top 14 of 15. Roughly 37% of Albany County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Loudonville has the highest median household income on the list ($142,829) and Watervliet the lowest ($57,919), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,083 in Watervliet to $1,829 in Loudonville. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Albany County community.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | city | 100,492 | $61,986 | $1,216 | 10 mi |
| Cohoes | city | 18,159 | $61,145 | $1,251 | 19 mi |
| Latham | CDP | 13,802 | $104,899 | $1,472 | 16 mi |
| Roessleville | CDP | 10,968 | $96,058 | $1,416 | 12 mi |
| Loudonville | CDP | 10,527 | $142,829 | $1,829 | 14 mi |
| Watervliet | city | 10,287 | $57,919 | $1,083 | 17 mi |
| Westmere | CDP | 8,334 | $88,378 | $1,629 | 9 mi |
| Colonie | village | 7,702 | $103,983 | $1,570 | 12 mi |
| Menands | village | 4,505 | $80,583 | $1,414 | 14 mi |
| Ravena | village | 3,243 | $77,217 | $1,122 | 11 mi |
| Green Island | village | 2,970 | $59,406 | $1,084 | 18 mi |
| Voorheesville | village | 2,824 | $111,172 | $1,228 | 5 mi |
| Siena College | CDP | 2,500 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Altamont | village | 1,855 | $112,159 | $1,201 | 9 mi |
Local borrowing considerations for Albany County
Albany County-specific points to check:
- 43% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Albany County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- Rent squeeze. 47% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
A Albany County household budget, worked through
Albany County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,111 before taxes
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,313)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,247 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Albany County's.
Albany County households compared
College graduates make up 46% of the adult population. About 3% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Albany County | Compared with New York | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 12.6% | -16.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 46.4% | +6.2 pts | +24.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | -5.7 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.2% | -1.9 pts | -4.6 pts |
| Median age | 38.4 | -1.4 yrs | -3.1 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | -1.3 pts | +0.6 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | -1.0 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Work from home | 15.2% | +0.3 pts | +6.6 pts |
| Minutes to work | Albany County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
Checklist for Albany County applicants
Steps that save money for Albany County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Albany County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the New York license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
New York lender licensing
The New York State Department of Financial Services is the place to verify any lender's New York license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. State-level detail for Albany County borrowers is in the New York guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Albany County:
Frequently asked questions
Is $85,333 a good income in Albany County?
It is the county median, so half of Albany County households earn more and half less; 43% earn $100,000 or more.
Is Albany County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,313 against $1,621 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Albany County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: Albany, Cohoes, Latham, Roessleville, Loudonville.
Will a Albany County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming New York as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Albany County residents?
The New York State Department of Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in New York; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.