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Living in
Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is an unincorporated community in Schenectady County, NY. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a community of 22,798 people in New York. The median household income is $85,887, median rent runs about $1,278 per month, and median home values are around $214,400. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Rotterdam at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Foreign-Born
5.3%
Broadband Internet
92.3%
of households
Population Growth
+13.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.3% foreign-born, most often from Italy
Who lives in Rotterdam: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rotterdam, the largest foreign-born group is from Italy (25.9%), and 2.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.2%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.3%
of households
Married Couples
41.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.26
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Rotterdam
In Rotterdam, rent runs 21% below the NY average, and home values are 49% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
99.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,599
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below NY average
Unemployment in Rotterdam
Unemployment in Schenectady County, which includes Rotterdam, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Rotterdam: Schenectady County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Schenectady County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Rotterdam Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.3 min avg
How Rotterdam residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rotterdam, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Albany International Airport (ALB)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 87 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 139 mi
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rotterdam runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
125.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,971.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rotterdam Town Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
71.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Schenectady County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Schenectady County, which includes Rotterdam, the most common type is winter weather, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Strong Wind | $500 |
| 2024 | 24 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 13 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 31 | Winter Weather | $20,000 |
| 2021 | 22 | Winter Weather | $1,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $14,000 |
| 2019 | 42 | Thunderstorm Wind | $123,000 |
| 2018 | 34 | Winter Weather | $12,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Schenectady County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Albany County, NY (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 14 miles from Rotterdam) is typically good — 250 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
250
per year
Moderate Days
110
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Albany County, NY (14 mi away)
Climate82°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rotterdam has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.4"
Annual Snowfall
59.2"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
136
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
139
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 16°F | 2.60" |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 2.28" |
| Mar | 45°F | 26°F | 3.09" |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.11" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 3.41" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.05" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 4.55" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.76" |
| Sep | 74°F | 53°F | 3.73" |
| Oct | 62°F | 41°F | 3.85" |
| Nov | 49°F | 32°F | 2.99" |
| Dec | 38°F | 23°F | 3.26" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rotterdam
Uninsured
1.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rotterdam's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ellis Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Schenectady
Sunnyview Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.8 mi away · Schenectady
St Peter's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.4 mi away · Albany
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rotterdam
Rotterdam's student/teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rotterdam (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 12,564 students · in-state tuition $10,881 · 67% graduate · median earnings $72,751 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,550 students · 60% graduate · median earnings $81,471 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,046 students · in-state tuition $71,676 · 85% graduate · median earnings $95,269 (10 yrs after entry)
Schenectady County Community College
2.2 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 1,507 students · in-state tuition $6,612 · 24% graduate · median earnings $44,042 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,244 students · in-state tuition $39,812 · 67% graduate · median earnings $61,760 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 656 students · in-state tuition $19,800 · 46% graduate · median earnings $63,018 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Saratoga National Historical Park, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rotterdam
Rotterdam has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saratoga National Historical Park (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
22 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
32 mi awayThomas Cole National Historic Site
National Historic Site
39 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
45 mi awayVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
National Historic Site
68 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
71 mi awayHome Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
71 mi awayFort Stanwix National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rotterdam
Rotterdam Branch
1100 North Westcott Road, Schenectady
Cities Near Rotterdam
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rotterdam?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rotterdam FAQ
Is Rotterdam, New York affordable?⌄
Rotterdam's median rent is $1,278/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $85,887/year. Median home value is $214,400.
Is Rotterdam, New York safe?⌄
Rotterdam's violent crime rate was 125 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1971 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rotterdam, New York?⌄
Schenectady County, which includes Rotterdam, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rotterdam, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Rotterdam is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,278/month and median household income is $85,887/year. The median home value is $214,400. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rotterdam, New York?⌄
The average commute in Rotterdam is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from