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Albany County vs Rensselaer County, NY: growth, jobs and income compared

Albany County is growing faster than Rensselaer County: +0.5% vs +0.3% between 2024 and 2025. Albany County gained 1,523 residents and Rensselaer County gained 496 residents (Census Bureau population estimates).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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Side by side

Albany County vs Rensselaer County, NY side by side: public federal figures
MeasureAlbany CountyRensselaer County
Population2025321,225 Larger160,510
Population change2020–25+2.2% Higher−0.2%
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents20250.81.9 Higher
Private-sector job growth2018–23−0.4%+7.0% Higher
Median household income2020–24$85,333$87,915 Higher
Unemployment rate20253.4% Lower3.5%
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents20252.12.1

The tag marks the stronger figure in each row: the higher one, or the lower one for the unemployment rate ("Larger" is only the head count). Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

The two counties share a border, and both are part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area.

Each county in full

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Questions

Is Albany County or Rensselaer County growing faster?

Albany County is growing faster than Rensselaer County: +0.5% vs +0.3% between 2024 and 2025. Albany County gained 1,523 residents and Rensselaer County gained 496 residents (Census Bureau population estimates).

Which has the higher median household income, Albany County or Rensselaer County?

Rensselaer County: $87,915, against $85,333 in Albany County (American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24).

Which has the lower unemployment rate, Albany County or Rensselaer County?

Albany County: 3.4%, against 3.5% in Rensselaer County (2025 annual average, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics).

Where they rank in the state

More comparisons

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.