City · New York
Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer, city, in Rensselaer County, New York. Rensselaer had 9,421 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,210 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,287 (±23). GEOID 3661148.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,421
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,210 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,287 ±23
Median household income
$70,080
±$8,662 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$208,900
±$22,093 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$1,219
±$117 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
Where is Rensselaer and what county is it in?
Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York. It covers 3.2 square miles of land, 2,904 residents per square mile in 2020.
Rensselaer is in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Rensselaer, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,421 people lived in Rensselaer on July 1, 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, while New York shrank 1.0%. The 2020 Census counted 9,210 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,287 (±23).
| Measure | Rensselaer | Rensselaer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,287 ±23 | 160,332 | no clear change |
| Households | 4,281 ±306 | 66,686 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.16 ±0.16 | 2.30 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,890 ±370 | 74,543 | no clear change |
Rensselaer's population since 2000
From 7,761 in 2000 to 9,421 in 2025: up 21.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Rensselaer as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Rensselaer?
The median resident of Rensselaer is 36.7 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 14.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 66.6%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 10.3%. 9.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Rensselaer | Rensselaer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 ±3.9 | 40.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.3% ±4.3 pts | 19.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.3% ±3.2 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Male | 47.0% ±3.7 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.0% ±2.9 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 66.6% ±5.0 pts | 78.7% | −9.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.0% ±3.4 pts | 6.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 10.3% ±4.0 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.6% ±2.7 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.8% ±2.8 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.4% ±4.5 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.9% ±1.7 pts | 6.0% | – |
| With a disability | 19.2% ±4.5 pts | 14.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.8% ±1.8 pts | 3.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.1% ±3.7 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.1% ±4.4 pts | 37.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.9% ±2.7 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.9% ±3.4 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±0.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Rensselaer earn?
Half of Rensselaer's 4,281 households earn less than $70,080 a year (±$8,662), against $87,915 in Rensselaer County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $68,811 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rensselaer | Rensselaer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $70,080 ±$8,662 | $87,915 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $81,946 ±$7,266 | $107,086 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,895 ±$3,386 | $46,000 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.9% ±6.4 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 36.3% ±15.8 pts | 17.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.2% ±4.6 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.6% ±1.3 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.6% ±3.7 pts | 91.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Rensselaer?
Owners occupy 43.3% of Rensselaer's occupied homes and renters 56.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $208,900 by its owner (±$22,093). The median renter pays $1,219 a month including utilities, and 28.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rensselaer | Rensselaer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $208,900 ±$22,093 | $258,400 | +$32,542 |
| Median gross rent | $1,219 ±$117 | $1,217 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 28.8% ±7.5 pts | 38.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,546 ±$230 | $1,940 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 43.3% ±5.9 pts | 64.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 56.7% ±5.9 pts | 35.2% | – |
| Housing units | 4,890 ±370 | 74,543 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.1% ±3.5 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 32.9% ±5.0 pts | 56.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.4% ±2.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.9% ±3.5 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 41.3% ±5.8 pts | 33.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 15.9% ±4.6 pts | 9.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Rensselaer building?
Builders took permits for 21 new housing units in Rensselaer in 2025 (1 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 1 of 12 months), 2.2 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Rensselaer work and get to work?
71.5% of Rensselaer's workers drive alone and 14.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Rensselaer | Rensselaer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.2% ±5.3 pts | 63.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% ±2.3 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.5% ±5.6 pts | 72.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.7% ±3.3 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 5.4% ±2.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±1.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.2% ±4.7 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.3 min ±2.5 | 24.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Rensselaer?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Rensselaer, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $46,399 (Tract 516.01) to $107,420 (Tract 516.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 516.02Rensselaer County | 3,812 | $107,420 |
| Tract 516.01Rensselaer County | 2,929 | $46,399 |
| Tract 515Rensselaer County | 2,546 | $73,618 |
| Tract 523.01Rensselaer County | 5,665 | $130,361 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Rensselaer) · Census block assignment files
How does Rensselaer compare with other places in New York?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Rensselaer is the 3,340th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 97th-most populous of 594 in New York.
Rensselaer ranks 1,115th of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 97th | 594 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 134th | 1,225 |
| Residents per square mile | 297th | 1,657 |
| Median household income | 1,115th | 1,623 |
| Per capita income | 1,018th | 1,653 |
| Median home value | 914th | 1,637 |
| Median gross rent | 626th | 1,515 |
| Poverty rate | 220th | 1,331 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,063rd | 1,640 |
| Median age | 1,444th | 1,654 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,585th | 1,639 |
| Work from home | 543rd | 1,350 |
| Travel time to work | 1,166th | 1,652 |
Rensselaer's figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Rensselaer with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Rensselaer?
8 of the 57 figures for Rensselaer on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Rensselaer are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Rensselaer.