Schenectady County, New York Income Statistics
Schenectady 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
Schenectady County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Schenectady County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $80,482 | $86,556 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $65,863 | $70,316 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.2% | 16.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.0% | 17.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Schenectady County is about 7% lower than in New York. Income has been growing slower in Schenectady County (3.8%/yr) than in New York (4.5%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Schenectady 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 Schenectady County, New York grew by 47.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $80,482 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Schenectady County
| Metric | Schenectady County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.526 | 0.557 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,472 | $77,531 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $64,714 | $67,892 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.1% | 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 Schenectady County, it is 0.526, 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 15% more than women's income in Schenectady County, New York. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $341,530 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Schenectady County, New York has narrowed from about 22% to 13% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,462 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Schenectady County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.3% | 15.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 28 | 22 |
Approximately 4,708 people are unemployed in Schenectady County, New York.
The average commute time in Schenectady County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 28 minutes in New York.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Schenectady County, New York has fallen from 6.7% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.4% in 2014.
Schenectady County, NY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Schenectady County, NY is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 160,313 residents against a local median of 49,864. Where Schenectady County, NY breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 22% above the local median of 4.7% at 5.8%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $80,482 against a local median of $69,692, 15% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: median household income runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Schenectady County, NY is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 1.8% on unemployment, so Schenectady County, NY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Schenectady County, NY has the 6th lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schenectady County, NY | 160,313 | $80,482 #3/6 | 3.8%/yr #6/6 | 5.8% #6/6 | 0.526 #4/6 |
| Albany County, NY | 317,009 | $85,884 | 4.4%/yr | 5.0% | 0.529 |
| Saratoga County, NY | 238,162 | $100,718 | 3.9%/yr | 3.3% | 0.495 |
| Montgomery County, NY | 49,528 | $66,179 | 5.1%/yr | 4.7% | 0.520 |
| Schoharie County, NY | 30,049 | $69,692 | 4.1%/yr | 5.0% | 0.528 |
| Fulton County, NY | 49,864 | $66,582 | 4.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.504 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Schenectady County, New York has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with New York, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Schenectady County, New York.
How Rich Is Schenectady County, New York?
Schenectady 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 $80,482, about 7% lower than the New York average of $86,556.
Are incomes growing in Schenectady County, New York?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Schenectady County, New York rose 47%, from $54,733 to $80,482. Over the same years, income here lagged behind New York as a whole: +47% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Schenectady County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Schenectady County, New York was $77,807, up 4% from $75,066 in 2022. The New York median that year was $85,199.
What was the median household income in Schenectady County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Schenectady County, New York was $66,844. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $80,482.
What is the Gini coefficient in Schenectady County, New York?
The Gini coefficient in Schenectady County is 0.526. 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 Schenectady County, New York?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Schenectady County, New York has narrowed from about 22% to 13% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,462 since 2009.
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