Rensselaer County, New York Income Statistics
Rensselaer County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Rensselaer County Around averageWealthier than 82% of counties in New York
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $87,745 | $86,556 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $67,968 | $70,316 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.1% | 16.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.3% | 17.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rensselaer County is about 1% higher than in New York. Income has been growing slower in Rensselaer County (4.4%/yr) than in New York (4.5%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Rensselaer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New York average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rensselaer County, New York grew by 60.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $87,745 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rensselaer County
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.509 | 0.557 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $76,227 | $77,531 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $68,161 | $67,892 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.6% | 12.4% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Rensselaer County, it is 0.509, lower than New York's 0.557, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 12% more than women's income in Rensselaer County, New York. Over a 35-year career, a 12% wage gap accumulates to roughly $282,310 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rensselaer County, New York has narrowed from about 20% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 9% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,786 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rensselaer County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.0% | 15.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 28 | 22 |
Approximately 4,478 people are unemployed in Rensselaer County, New York.
The average commute time in Rensselaer County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 28 minutes in New York.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rensselaer County, New York has fallen from 7.6% to 5.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.5% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.7% in 2019.
Rensselaer County, NY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Rensselaer County, NY is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 160,332 residents against a local median of 129,358. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Rensselaer County, NY an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 6% above the local median at $87,745 against $82,826. Rensselaer County, NY has the 2nd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rensselaer County, NY | 160,332 | $87,745 #2/6 | 4.4%/yr #3/6 | 5.3% #4/6 | 0.509 #2/6 |
| Berkshire County, MA | 129,358 | $76,040 | 4.7%/yr | 5.4% | 0.519 |
| Columbia County, NY | 61,100 | $82,826 | 4.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.535 |
| Albany County, NY | 317,009 | $85,884 | 4.4%/yr | 5.0% | 0.529 |
| Bennington County, VT | 37,269 | $73,158 | 4.6%/yr | 4.4% | 0.525 |
| Saratoga County, NY | 238,162 | $100,718 | 3.9%/yr | 3.3% | 0.495 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rensselaer County, New York has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than New York, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rensselaer County, New York.
How Rich Is Rensselaer County, New York?
Rensselaer County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $87,745, about 1% higher than the New York average of $86,556.
How has median household income changed in Rensselaer County, New York?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rensselaer County, New York rose 61%, from $54,521 to $87,745. Over the same years, income here outpaced New York as a whole: +61% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Rensselaer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rensselaer County, New York was $85,939, up 3% from $83,831 in 2022. The New York median that year was $85,199.
What was the median household income in Rensselaer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rensselaer County, New York was $71,552. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $87,745.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rensselaer County, New York?
The Gini coefficient in Rensselaer County is 0.509. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Rensselaer County, New York?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rensselaer County, New York has narrowed from about 20% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 9% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,786 since 2009.
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