What it's like to live in Troy
Troy is a smaller city in New York with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Troy deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 59" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Troy compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Troy
Based on Troy's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,350
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,000 a year
- 51% of Troy renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$41,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,650
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 17% below US
$1,175/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,175 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $206,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $206,500 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
345 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2304/100k · Troy Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% take public transit; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 20°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Saratoga National Historical Park (18 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Troy's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,175/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Troy
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