New York · GEOID 36093

Schenectady County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 160,369 · 71,244 housing units

Median household income

$79,623

State $89,823

Median home value

$235,700

State $488,843

Median gross rent

$1,194

State $1,707

Homeownership rate

64.0%

State 54.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

53.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

19.8%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.0%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.5%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

6.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.96

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Schenectady County	New York
Population	160,369	19,852,366
Population density (per sq. mi.)	783.55	—
Median household income	$79,623	$89,823
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$123,100	—
Households	66,902	—
Average household size	2.32 people	—
Owner-occupied	64.0%	54.3%
Renter-occupied	36.0%	45.7%
Race	69.1% White · 10.3% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Schenectady County compared with New York.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

36.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 40.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	16.2%	$55,222	$1,381	$174,536
1 earner	30.7%	$77,967	$1,949	$259,200
2 earners	42.9%	$131,584	$3,290	$458,781
3+ earners	10.3%	$167,120	$4,178	$591,058

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

66,902

Average size: 2.32 people

Households with children

16,021

23.9% of households

Per-capita income

$43,516

Poverty rate: 12.5%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

64.0% owner-occupied vs. state average 54.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 61.6% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 29.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

75.3% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,956.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $235,700.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,194.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 4,342 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 9.7% · For rent 26.1% · Seasonal 7.3% · Other 47.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

45.1% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 54.9% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.4%

318 units of 71,244 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.9%

2,066 units of 71,244 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$63,698

100% MHI$79,623

120% MHI$95,548

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Schenectady County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$68,950	$78,800	$98,500
100% AMI	$86,170	$98,480	$123,100
120% AMI	$103,400	$118,200	$147,700

HUD FMR Area: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

53.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (32.0% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

19.8% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Schenectady County.

Covered employment

52,229

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

3,444

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$73,499

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	8,863	$57,243	$182,058	−$53,642	$1,431
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	7,003	$47,500	$145,792	−$89,908	$1,188
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	6,138	$145,621	$511,031	+$275,331	$3,641
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	4,837	$98,754	$336,576	+$100,876	$2,469
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	4,678	$34,899	$98,886	−$136,814	$872
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	4,189	$93,286	$316,223	+$80,523	$2,332
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	3,061	$54,650	$172,406	−$63,294	$1,366
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	2,400	$73,540	$242,721	+$7,021	$1,839
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	2,210	$108,034	$371,120	+$135,420	$2,701
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	2,013	$45,137	$136,996	−$98,704	$1,128
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1,794	$50,701	$157,707	−$77,993	$1,268
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,582	$38,800	$113,407	−$122,293	$970
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	1,009	$67,257	$219,334	−$16,366	$1,681
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	829	$130,975	$456,514	+$220,814	$3,274
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	751	$29,926	$80,375	−$155,325	$748
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	572	$57,891	$184,470	−$51,230	$1,447
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	191	$47,648	$146,343	−$89,357	$1,191
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	79	$74,046	$244,605	+$8,905	$1,851
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	30	$18,248	$36,906	−$198,794	$456

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	6,138	$145,621	$511,031	+$275,331	$3,641
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	3,588	$26,715	$68,423	−$167,277	$668
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	2,826	$80,963	$270,352	+$34,652	$2,024
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	2,426	$48,991	$151,342	−$84,358	$1,225
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	2,216	$48,550	$149,700	−$86,000	$1,214
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	2,013	$45,137	$136,996	−$98,704	$1,128
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	1,988	$73,945	$244,229	+$8,529	$1,849
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	1,844	$133,199	$464,792	+$229,092	$3,330
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,785	$72,667	$239,472	+$3,772	$1,817
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	1,650	$108,365	$372,352	+$136,652	$2,709
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	1,533	$46,059	$140,428	−$95,272	$1,151
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,277	$30,542	$82,668	−$153,032	$764
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,090	$61,840	$199,170	−$36,530	$1,546
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	991	$45,924	$139,925	−$95,775	$1,148
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	962	$58,001	$184,880	−$50,820	$1,450
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	927	$75,233	$249,023	+$13,323	$1,881
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	829	$130,975	$456,514	+$220,814	$3,274
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	709	$46,496	$142,054	−$93,646	$1,162
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	694	$28,957	$76,768	−$158,932	$724
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	634	$95,316	$323,779	+$88,079	$2,383
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	607	$127,733	$444,446	+$208,746	$3,193
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	507	$71,219	$234,082	−$1,618	$1,780
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	507	$40,372	$119,259	−$116,441	$1,009
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	487	$25,211	$62,824	−$172,876	$630
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	469	$60,116	$192,753	−$42,947	$1,503
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	465	$57,101	$181,530	−$54,170	$1,428
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	463	$63,777	$206,380	−$29,320	$1,594
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	451	$60,768	$195,180	−$40,520	$1,519
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	438	$95,780	$325,506	+$89,806	$2,395
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	399	$83,420	$279,498	+$43,798	$2,086
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	394	$69,380	$227,236	−$8,464	$1,735
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	387	$31,125	$84,838	−$150,862	$778
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	372	$55,695	$176,296	−$59,404	$1,392
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	359	$35,180	$99,932	−$135,768	$880
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	348	$71,958	$236,833	+$1,133	$1,799
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	317	$31,921	$87,801	−$147,899	$798
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	260	$78,271	$260,332	+$24,632	$1,957
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	256	$26,664	$68,233	−$167,467	$667
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	250	$77,118	$256,040	+$20,340	$1,928
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	235	$70,259	$230,508	−$5,192	$1,756
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	213	$143,543	$503,296	+$267,596	$3,589
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	212	$65,813	$213,959	−$21,741	$1,645
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	211	$68,290	$223,179	−$12,521	$1,707
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	210	$39,457	$115,853	−$119,847	$986
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	205	$77,862	$258,809	+$23,109	$1,947
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	196	$66,859	$217,852	−$17,848	$1,671
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	191	$47,648	$146,343	−$89,357	$1,191
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	164	$118,163	$408,823	+$173,123	$2,954
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	128	$85,159	$285,971	+$50,271	$2,129
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	115	$71,780	$236,170	+$470	$1,795
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	104	$86,198	$289,839	+$54,139	$2,155
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	100	$161,191	$568,988	+$333,288	$4,030
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	89	$128,202	$446,192	+$210,492	$3,205
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	82	$21,655	$49,588	−$186,112	$541
NAICS 212 Mining (except oil and gas) NAICS 212	79	$74,046	$244,605	+$8,905	$1,851
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	77	$64,331	$208,442	−$27,258	$1,608
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	75	$60,627	$194,655	−$41,045	$1,516
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	67	$87,141	$293,349	+$57,649	$2,179
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	53	$36,055	$103,189	−$132,511	$901
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	35	$69,648	$228,234	−$7,466	$1,741
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	33	$31,712	$87,023	−$148,677	$793
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	28	$64,414	$208,751	−$26,949	$1,610
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	7	$17,816	$35,298	−$200,402	$445

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	7,190	(2,890)	(29%)	$17.06	$35,480	$101,049	$887
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	8,570	(2,020)	(19%)	$17.07	$35,510	$101,161	$888
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	2,420	120	5%	$18.38	$38,220	$111,248	$956
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	11,930	(2,530)	(17%)	$19.03	$39,590	$116,348	$990
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	8,880	620	8%	$19.38	$40,300	$118,991	$1,008
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	4,200	(5,160)	(55%)	$20.07	$41,750	$124,388	$1,044
Tellers SOC 43-3071	880	(530)	(38%)	$20.38	$42,390	$126,770	$1,060
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	6,860	(4,400)	(39%)	$23.26	$48,370	$149,030	$1,209
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	4,970	980	25%	$25.90	$53,880	$169,540	$1,347
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	6,310	(300)	(5%)	$26.24	$54,580	$172,146	$1,365
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,700	(490)	(15%)	$29.04	$60,400	$193,810	$1,510
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	4,830	560	13%	$30.14	$62,690	$202,334	$1,567
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	390	(610)	(61%)	$31.62	$65,760	$213,762	$1,644
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	480	230	92%	$31.70	$65,930	$214,394	$1,648
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	2,000	(240)	(11%)	$31.98	$66,520	$216,591	$1,663
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,820	(540)	(23%)	$36.70	$76,340	$253,144	$1,909
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,770	(20)	(1%)	$37.04	$77,040	$255,750	$1,926
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	3,550	110	3%	—	$79,170	$263,678	$1,979
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	1,470	60	4%	$39.10	$81,330	$271,718	$2,033
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	10,230	610	6%	$47.37	$98,530	$335,743	$2,463

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 36093 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.