City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Rensselaer, NY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rensselaer - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,247
Residents
$66,046
Median income
$202,600
Median home
$1,702
Median rent (state)

Rensselaer - the verdict

Rensselaer ranks in the 44th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

44th
percentile, household income
44th
percentile, home value
67th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rensselaer, NY

New York's Rensselaer is a small town, with 9,247 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $66,046 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.0%. Home values in Rensselaer run a median of $202,600, and the median resident age is 38.9 years. 26.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 15 residential building permits were authorized in Rensselaer (Slowing), down 12% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New York at 107.9 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,702 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $285 across New York, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 82.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

9,247 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$66,046 /yr

Poverty 13.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Rensselaer compare to other US cities?

Here's how Rensselaer stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 44% pricier than other cities
Median rent 67% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Rensselaer against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New York only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New York-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Rensselaer toward the top of New York's cities

Among the 1,246 New York cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Rensselaer ranks #228 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Rensselaer only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#830 of 1,205
31st percentile in New York
Median Gross Rent
#522 of 1,256
53rd percentile in New York
Median Home Value
#666 of 1,202
45th percentile in New York
Poverty Rate
#228 of 1,246
82nd percentile in New York
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#791 of 1,254
37th percentile in New York

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New York only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

44thIncome percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Rensselaer's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$202,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 56% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rensselaer $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rensselaer, NY Rensselaer, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rensselaer, NY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rensselaer, NY median $66,046/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rensselaer, NY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rensselaer, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,247
Median Income
$66,046
Median Home Value
$202,600
Median Age
38.9
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Labor force participation
63.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.5%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
9,100 residents9,200 residents9,300 residents9,400 residents9,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,208 residents 9,421 residents ▲ +2.3%
Rensselaer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
15
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
15
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 17
2020 34
2021 44
2022 61
2023 53
2024 15

Permit volume decreased 12% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
65.8%
Carpool
12.3%
Public Transit
5.5%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
12.4%
Other
1.2%

Based on 4,811 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New York state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rensselaer sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,702/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
82.2 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Woodbury
9,270 people
Bohemia
9,306 people
Mahopac
9,171 people
Glens Falls North
9,148 people
Stony Brook University
9,138 people
Newark
9,040 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rensselaer's 9,247 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sandpoint, ID
9,244 people
Bethalto, IL
9,244 people
Pine Lake Park, NJ
9,251 people
Augusta, KS
9,252 people
Middlesborough, KY
9,258 people
Shawano, WI
9,236 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rensselaer's $66,046 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Springdale, AR
$66,044 median income
Glencoe, AL
$66,050 median income
Blaine, OH
$66,042 median income
Beavertown, PA
$66,042 median income
Heckscherville, PA
$66,042 median income
Fairchilds, TX
$66,042 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rensselaer, NY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rensselaer, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 71.4% 7.2% 9.3% 10.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.1% White 71.4% Black or African American 7.2% Asian 9.3% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 10.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rensselaer compares to nearby New York cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rensselaer (this city) 9,247 $66,046
Woodbury 9,270 $181,667
Bohemia 9,306 $120,094
Mahopac 9,171 $114,867
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rensselaer, NY?

What is the population of Rensselaer, NY? +

9,247 people live in Rensselaer, NY according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rensselaer, NY? +

In Rensselaer, the typical household earns $66,046 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rensselaer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rensselaer; the closest available measure is the New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Rensselaer, NY? +

Rensselaer's median home value sits at $202,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.