The Town FilesSchenectady, New York
City in Schenectady County · population 67,047 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,800
- Household income
- $58,399
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 36.1
Schenectady is a city of 67,047 people in Schenectady County, New York. The median home is worth $168,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 98% of New York towns, hipper than 96% of New York towns, more vibrant than 94% of New York towns.
How Schenectady 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 Schenectady is worth $168,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $58,399, which is more affordable than 49% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,145 a month. 45.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Schenectady | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,145 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $58,399 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 45.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Schenectady
| People | Schenectady | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Schenectady
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 59.2 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
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Schenectady since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 24, 1960 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 94 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 16, 2009.
Severe weather in Schenectady County since 1996
Schenectady County has been included in 25 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 Schenectady County
Schenectady County had 58,509 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,794 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Schenectady itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Schenectady
32 public schools with 18,587 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL | 8-12 | 2,860 | 13.2 |
| NISKAYUNA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,363 | 13.5 |
| MOHONASEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 890 | 12.9 |
| MONT PLEASANT MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 708 | 12.2 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 685 | 14.3 |
| DRAPER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 680 | 11.7 |
| HERMAN L BRADT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 620 | 12.7 |
| IROQUOIS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 613 | 12.0 |
| ONEIDA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 606 | 10.8 |
| PINEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 604 | 13.4 |
| CENTRAL PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 584 | 9.4 |
| SCHALMONT MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 555 | 10.1 |
Towns near Schenectady
- Niskayuna, NY2.0 mi · 20,787 people · home $357,900
- Rotterdam, NY2.3 mi · 22,968 people · home $214,400
- Scotia, NY2.6 mi · 7,272 people · home $189,900
- East Glenville, NY4.2 mi · 11,896 people · home $296,200
- Rotterdam, NY4.3 mi · 30,523 people · home $227,000
- Clifton Park, NY6.6 mi · 38,029 people · home $395,400
- Glenville, NY6.7 mi · 29,326 people · home $257,400
- Guilderland, NY6.9 mi · 36,848 people · home $357,400
Schenectady questions
Is Schenectady, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Schenectady scores better for retirees than 2% of New York towns and quieter than 3%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.1).
How much does a house cost in Schenectady?
The median owner-occupied home in Schenectady is valued at $168,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,399, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,145 a month.
What is the weather like in Schenectady?
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 59.2 inches of snow.
Does Schenectady get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Schenectady since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 24, 1960. 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)