Your life in Schenectady County, New York

What stands out

Against every county in America, Schenectady County is unusual in three ways: the property tax rate is among the highest in America (2.56%), the uninsured rate is in the bottom 3% of American counties (4.9%), and the typical two-bedroom rent is in the top 13% of American counties ($1,166 a month). Within New York it ranks 11th of 62 counties for the property tax rate.

Where you are

You live in Schenectady County, New York. 159,447 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -210).

New York's top income-tax rate is 10.9%, and New York City residents add a city income tax of up to 3.876% on top. The state estate tax has a cliff: estates just over the exemption can owe tax on the whole amount. Social Security is not taxed and up to $20,000 of pension income is excluded. Upstate home prices and taxes look nothing like the downstate market.

Money

The typical household here brings in $75,056 a year, higher than 82% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $73,794. Unemployment runs 3.3%, lower than 54% of American counties. 10% of workers work from home.

New York takes 5.2% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,888 a year.

Home

The median home costs $309K, pricier than 71% of American counties, about 2.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,166 a month. Property tax is 2.56% of home value, roughly $5,241 a year on that median home, higher than almost every county in America. 64% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.2 per 1,000 residents, lower than 86% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 21 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 77.7 years, longer than 72% of American counties. There are 420 active physicians in the county, about 26.3 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 4.9% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

92% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 16 points. 65% of eligible voters turned out. Under New York law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 48°F, highs near 58 and lows near 38, colder than 81% of American counties. About 40 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 54 out of 100, riskier than 54% of American counties; the county has had 25 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 259 Mbps down, faster than 79% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 breweries, 5 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• New York tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.