Rensselaer County, NY Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 157,913 | 19,009,591 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 237.4 | 348.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.4 | 38.5 | 37.1 |
| Households | 66,233 | 7,641,851 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Rensselaer County grew by 3.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 160,340 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Rensselaer County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,939 | $85,191 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.78% | 4.93% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 6.2% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Rensselaer County is about 1% higher than in New York.
Housing
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $182,880 | $436,407 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,182 | $1,576 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.1% | 54.2% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Rensselaer County is about 12.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,182 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Rensselaer County spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 182 hours, about 7.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.8 | 29.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 43.6 | 57.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 182 | 241 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,634 | $7,480 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 13.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 9,379 | 9,257 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,285 | 1,586 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
New York:
Chautauqua County (15.3 min), Hamilton County (15.8 min), Clinton County (16.4 min).
Slowest:
Bronx County (45.1 min), Kings County (42.1 min), Queens County (42.1 min).
The average commute time in Rensselaer County is 22 minutes, shorter than the 29 minutes in New York.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Rensselaer County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.7% | 36.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.32 | 2.51 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
New York:
New York County (0.5), Tompkins County (0.4), Westchester County (0.4).
Lowest:
Bronx County (0.2), Orleans County (0.2), Hamilton County (0.2).
Health
Rensselaer County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.1 | 80.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.1% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.3% | 17.4% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
New York:
Tompkins County (0.8), Nassau County (0.8), New York County (0.8).
Lowest:
Bronx County (0.8), Montgomery County (0.8), Cattaraugus County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Rensselaer County, New York.
What is the population of Rensselaer County, New York?
The population of Rensselaer County, New York is 157,913, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Rensselaer County, New York?
The population density of Rensselaer County, New York is 237.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Rensselaer County, New York?
The median household income in Rensselaer County, New York is $85,939, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Rensselaer County, New York?
The median home price in Rensselaer County, New York is $182,880, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Rensselaer County, New York?
The unemployment rate in Rensselaer County, New York is 5.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.