1st Advantage MortgageThe median Montgomery County household earns $64,943, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- 49,528 residents: Montgomery County basics
- Montgomery County's most unusual numbers
- Montgomery County income bands
- What it costs to live in Montgomery County
- Labor force snapshot: Montgomery County
- Montgomery County towns compared
- Montgomery County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income, Montgomery County edition
- More Montgomery County figures
- Reading the Montgomery County data as a borrower
- Steps before you apply in Montgomery County
- Verifying a lender from Montgomery County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
49,528 residents: Montgomery County basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Montgomery County's population at 49,528; only 45 of New York's 62 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 403 square miles, that is close to 123 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Montgomery County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (11 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Amsterdam, with about 18,166 residents, or 37% of the county.
Montgomery County's most unusual numbers
- Montgomery County ranks 4th highest of 62 New York counties for the uninsured rate: 7.2%, against 5.1% statewide. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
- Few New York counties match Montgomery County on median household income: $64,943 here, $85,974 for the state, ranking 10th lowest of 62. A lean local median makes the size of the loan the most important choice.
- Montgomery County ranks 11th lowest of 62 New York counties for the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 23%, against 40% statewide. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
Montgomery County income bands
$64,943 is the median household income for Montgomery County, set against $85,974 for New York. That places it 53rd among New York's 62 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Montgomery County | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +9.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -11.6 pts |
26% under $35,000 and 30% at $100,000 or more: that is the Montgomery County income split. Montgomery County counts about 7,219 residents below the poverty line, 14.6% of the population. Gini index for Montgomery County: 0.427. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Montgomery County
$940 a month is the median gross rent in Montgomery County, 42% below the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. Montgomery County homes are worth $157,500 at the median, a 2.4-to-1 ratio to income. The ownership rate is 70%. Median construction year: 1944.
| Housing | Montgomery County | New York statewide | Montgomery County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 70% | 54% | +16.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 33% | -9.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 52% | -7.2 pts |
| Median home value | $157,500 | $423,800 | 63% lower |
| Vacant units | 15% | 10% | +4.7 pts |
| Median gross rent | $940/mo | $1,621/mo | 42% lower |
Labor force snapshot: Montgomery County
Top Montgomery County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 25%; second, retail trade, 14%. Manufacturing stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Montgomery County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 11.4% of the total (29.2% statewide).
| Top industries | Montgomery County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | -3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +4.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.1% | +5.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -6.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Montgomery County towns compared
Places, by size: the top 12 of 12. Roughly 41% of Montgomery County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $34,738 in Fort Plain to $92,000 in Fultonville. Rent is cheapest in Palatine Bridge ($460) and steepest in Amsterdam ($1,006). Live in one of these Montgomery County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | city | 18,166 | $56,178 | $1,006 | 13 mi |
| Fort Plain | village | 2,290 | $34,738 | $709 | 10 mi |
| Canajoharie | village | 1,839 | $80,139 | $870 | 7 mi |
| St. Johnsville | village | 1,790 | $47,109 | $742 | 14 mi |
| Hagaman | village | 1,044 | $63,125 | $917 | 15 mi |
| Tribes Hill | CDP | 959 | $86,615 | $471 | 8 mi |
| Palatine Bridge | village | 727 | $80,625 | $460 | 7 mi |
| Nelliston | village | 707 | $39,219 | $628 | 9 mi |
| Fultonville | village | 678 | $92,000 | $938 | 5 mi |
| Fonda | village | 596 | $49,300 | $857 | 5 mi |
| Fort Johnson | village | 364 | $64,167 | $1,088 | 11 mi |
| Ames | village | 87 | $112,500 | n/a | 9 mi |
Montgomery County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Montgomery County's, from 15 to 35 miles away. Income ranges from $66,533 in Fulton County to $100,787 in Saratoga County; all six of these neighbors top Montgomery County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | - | $64,943 | $940/mo | 70% |
| Fulton County, NY | 15 mi | $66,533 | $912/mo | 71% |
| Schenectady County, NY | 21 mi | $79,623 | $1,194/mo | 64% |
| Schoharie County, NY | 21 mi | $70,133 | $909/mo | 76% |
| Albany County, NY | 32 mi | $85,333 | $1,313/mo | 57% |
| Saratoga County, NY | 33 mi | $100,787 | $1,394/mo | 72% |
| Otsego County, NY | 35 mi | $68,885 | $987/mo | 74% |
Debt-to-income, Montgomery County edition
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Montgomery County's medians:
- $64,943 a year is $5,412 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $940, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,008 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Montgomery County figures
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.2%, against 5.1% for New York.
| Measure | Montgomery County | Gap to New York | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | +0.5 yrs | -1.2 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.9% | -17.3 pts | +0.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | -0.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | +2.1 pts | -0.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 11.4% | -17.8 pts | +6.0 pts |
| Work from home | 9.4% | -5.5 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | +0.6 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | -1.6 pts | +0.3 pts |
| Commute length | Montgomery County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
Reading the Montgomery County data as a borrower
Montgomery County-specific points to check:
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Consolidating cards in Montgomery County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Steps before you apply in Montgomery County
A short checklist for Montgomery County borrowers:
- Price the Montgomery County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Verifying a lender from Montgomery County
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. The New York guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Montgomery County earn?
The median is $64,943; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Montgomery County?
$940 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Should Montgomery County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 70% of Montgomery County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live near Amsterdam. Which guide is mine?
This one. Amsterdam and the rest of Montgomery County have no separate city guide.
Are Montgomery County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.