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Living in
Schenectady.
About
Life in Schenectady
If you're considering Schenectady, understand that you're moving to a post-industrial city that's genuinely trying to reinvent itself, not a nostalgia play. The cost of living is reasonable—median home values around $169,000 and rents near $1,100 make it affordable compared to many Northeast cities—but that reflects the economic reality of a place that lost major employers decades ago. GE still has significant operations here and recently established a renewable energy center, which has helped, and there's visible downtown activity with new restaurants and businesses, but this isn't a booming economy.
Schenectady at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.8%
Foreign-Born
14.6%
Broadband Internet
86.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.6% foreign-born, most often from Guyana
Who lives in Schenectady: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Schenectady, the largest foreign-born group is from Guyana (49.9%), and 6.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.9%
of residents
65 and Older
15.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.2%
of households
Married Couples
29.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.22
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 29% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Schenectady
In Schenectady, rent runs 29% below the NY average, and home values are 60% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
99.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,874
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
45.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1941
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $331,463 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Schenectady
Unemployment in Schenectady is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Schenectady Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22 min avg
How Schenectady residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Schenectady, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Albany International Airport (ALB)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 88 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 141 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 114% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Schenectady runs 114% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
705
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,830.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Schenectady 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 Schenectady, 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.
0 earthquakes 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 15 miles from Schenectady) 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 (15 mi away)
Climate82°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Schenectady 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
40.7"
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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Schenectady
Schenectady has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Ellis Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Ellis Hospital · 1101 Nott Street
- Outpatient center: Ellis Health Center · 600 Mcclellan St, Schenectady
- Hospital campus: Bellevue Woman's Center · 2210 Troy Schenectady Rd, Schenectady
Sunnyview Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Peter's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.6 mi away · Albany
Capital District Psych Center
Psychiatric · 12.7 mi away · Albany
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.7 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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education11.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Schenectady
Schenectady's student/teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Schenectady
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
Public · 2-year · 1,507 students · in-state tuition $6,612 · 24% graduate · median earnings $44,042 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 162 students · in-state tuition $12,728 · 64% graduate · median earnings $88,684 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (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)
Hudson Valley Community College
14.4 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 6,499 students · in-state tuition $6,796 · 37% graduate · median earnings $50,915 (10 yrs after entry)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
13.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,714 students · in-state tuition $66,032 · 85% graduate · median earnings $113,011 (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, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Schenectady
Schenectady has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saratoga National Historical Park (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
32 mi awayThomas Cole National Historic Site
National Historic Site
40 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
43 mi awayVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
National Historic Site
69 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
72 mi awayHome Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
72 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Schenectady
Central Library
99 Clinton Street, Schenectady
Mont Pleasant Branch
1036 Crane Street, Schenectady
Phyllis Bornt Branch Library & Literacy Center
948 State St., Schenectady
Woodlawn Branch
2 Sanford Street, Schenectady
Cities Near Schenectady
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Schenectady?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Schenectady FAQ
Is Schenectady, New York affordable?⌄
Schenectady's median rent is $1,145/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $58,399/year. Median home value is $168,800.
Is Schenectady, New York safe?⌄
Schenectady's violent crime rate was 705 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2830 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Schenectady, New York?⌄
Schenectady has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Schenectady, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Schenectady is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,145/month and median household income is $58,399/year. The median home value is $168,800. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Schenectady, New York?⌄
The average commute in Schenectady 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