The Town FilesAlbany, New York
City in Albany County · population 99,224 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,700
- Household income
- $61,986
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 32.0
Albany is a city of 99,224 people in Albany County, New York. The median home is worth $234,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 99% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 97% of New York towns, more walkable than 96% of New York towns.
How Albany ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Albany is worth $234,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $61,986, which is more affordable than 29% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,216 a month. 38.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Albany | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,216 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $61,986 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 38.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Albany
| People | Albany | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Albany
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albany since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 31, 1998 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 122 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 30, 1991.
Severe weather in Albany County since 1996
Albany County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Albany County
Albany County had 233,390 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,387 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Albany itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Albany
35 public schools with 17,754 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,768 | 12.6 |
| COLONIE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,561 | 13.1 |
| SAND CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 882 | 11.6 |
| KIPP TECH VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-8 | 821 | 21.1 |
| KIPP ALBANY COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-8 | 676 | 23.3 |
| LISHA KILL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 646 | 12.4 |
| WILLIAM S HACKETT MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 630 | 8.4 |
| STEPHEN AND HARRIET MYERS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 573 | 7.4 |
| WESTMERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 536 | 10.9 |
| NORTH ALBANY ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 488 | 7.7 |
| VEEDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 484 | 18.6 |
| NEW SCOTLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 459 | 13.5 |
Towns near Albany
- Roessleville, NY2.2 mi · 11,518 people · home $264,500
- Loudonville, NY3.5 mi · 10,296 people · home $391,200
- Rensselaer, NY3.6 mi · 9,210 people · home $208,900
- Menands, NY4.1 mi · 4,554 people · home $271,300
- Westmere, NY4.1 mi · 7,560 people · home $313,400
- Colonie, NY4.2 mi · 7,781 people · home $285,400
- Hampton Manor, NY4.7 mi · 5,423 people · home $239,400
- Colonie, NY5.2 mi · 85,590 people · home $322,900
Albany questions
Is Albany, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Albany scores better for retirees than 4% of New York towns and quieter than 4%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Albany?
The median owner-occupied home in Albany is valued at $234,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,986, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,216 a month.
What is the weather like in Albany?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 56.2 inches of snow.
Does Albany get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albany since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 31, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)