County · New York
Albany County, New York
Albany County, New York. Albany County had 321,225 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.0% since 2020, while New York shrank 1.0%. It holds 24 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs, 9 towns and townships and 6 census-designated) and 85 census tracts. GEOID 36001.
Albany County is one of the 5 counties of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
321,225
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 314,848 · ACS 2020-2024: 317,018
Median household income
$85,333
±$2,280 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$294,600
±$4,249 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$1,313
±$26 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
How many people live in Albany County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 314,848 residents in Albany County. The Census Bureau estimates 321,225 for July 1, 2025, up 2.0% since 2020, while New York shrank 1.0%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 317,018 over 523 square miles of land.
| Measure | Albany County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 317,018 | 19,852,366 | +10,050 |
| Households | 134,703±1,000 | 7,722,646 | +8,163 |
| Average household size | 2.21±0.02 | 2.49 | −0.08 |
| Housing units | 147,662±143 | 8,585,241 | +6,109 |
Albany County's population since 2000
From 294,565 in 2000 to 321,225 in 2025: up 9.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Albany County?
Albany County holds 24 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 9 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is Albany with 101,698 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Albany | 99,224 | $61,986 |
|---|---|---|
| Colonie (town) | 85,590 | $101,676 |
| Guilderland (town) | 36,848 | $112,273 |
| Bethlehem (town) | 35,034 | $123,893 |
| Cohoes | 18,147 | $61,145 |
| Latham | 13,680 | $104,899 |
| Roessleville | 11,518 | $96,058 |
| Watervliet | 10,375 | $57,919 |
| Loudonville | 10,296 | $142,829 |
| New Scotland (town) | 9,096 | $122,659 |
| Colonie | 7,781 | $103,983 |
| Westmere | 7,560 | $88,378 |
| Coeymans (town) | 7,256 | $95,403 |
| Menands | 4,554 | $80,583 |
| Ravena | 3,271 | $77,217 |
| Westerlo (town) | 3,194 | $99,167 |
| Green Island | 2,934 | $59,406 |
| Voorheesville | 2,841 | $111,172 |
| Berne (town) | 2,689 | $105,219 |
| Knox (town) | 2,635 | $124,083 |
| Siena CollegeGEOID 3667367 | 2,281 | not published |
| Rensselaerville (town) | 1,826 | $90,324 |
| Altamont | 1,675 | $112,159 |
| Preston-Potter HollowGEOID 3659831 | 367 | $122,956 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Albany County?
The median resident of Albany County is 38.4 years old; 18.0% are under 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 68.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 11.5%. 12.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Albany County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4±0.3 | 39.8 | +0.6 |
| Under 18 years | 18.0%±0.1 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.2%±0.1 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.3% | 19.8% | +1.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 68.0%±0.3 pts | 52.8% | −4.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 11.5%±0.3 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 7.5%±0.2 pts | 9.0% | +0.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.0%±0.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 12.0%±0.6 pts | 22.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.0%±0.7 pts | 30.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8%±0.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| With a disability | 12.9%±0.5 pts | 12.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.2%±0.3 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.7%±0.5 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 46.4%±0.8 pts | 40.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 22.8%±0.8 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6%±0.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
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 Albany County earn?
Half of Albany County's 134,703 households earn less than $85,333 a year (±$2,280), against $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 the median was $81,536 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $3,797 after inflation. 13.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Albany County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,333±$2,280 | $85,974 | +$3,797 |
| Mean household income | $111,519±$2,448 | $128,247 | – |
| Per capita income | $48,210±$1,090 | $50,712 | +$1,893 |
| People below the poverty line | 13.0%±0.8 pts | 14.0% | +1.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.3%±1.9 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.0%±0.8 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.5%±0.6 pts | 90.8% | – |
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 Albany County?
Owners occupy 56.6% of Albany County's occupied homes and renters 43.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $294,600 by its owner (±$4,249). The median renter pays $1,313 a month including utilities, and 37.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Albany County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $294,600±$4,249 | $423,800 | +$20,771 |
| Median gross rent | $1,313±$26 | $1,621 | +$55 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.2%±2.2 pts | 43.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,998±$35 | $2,555 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.6%±1.0 pts | 54.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 147,662±143 | 8,585,241 | +6,109 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±0.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3%±0.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 49.5%±0.8 pts | 41.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.2%±0.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0%±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 26.6%±0.9 pts | 30.3% | – |
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 Albany County building?
Builders took permits for 683 new housing units across Albany County in 2025 (200 single-family), 2.1 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Albany County get to work?
66.7% of Albany County's workers drive alone and 15.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.0%.
| Measure | Albany County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.7%±0.7 pts | 62.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0%±0.6 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 66.7%±0.9 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.2%±0.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 4.2%±0.5 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Walked | 3.8%±0.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.2%±0.8 pts | 14.9% | +11.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.4 min±0.5 | 32.6 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 are Albany County's census tracts?
Albany County is divided into 85 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $28,311 (Tract 5.01) to $200,083 (Tract 137.06).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Albany County compare with New York's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 14th of 62 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 7th of 62 |
| Residents per square mile | 14th of 62 |
| Median household income | 14th of 62 |
| Median home value | 16th of 62 |
| Median gross rent | 16th of 62 |
| Poverty rate | 33rd of 62 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5th of 62 |
| Median age | 55th of 62 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Albany County 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' school search.