Albany-Schenectady-Troy receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh
Opportunity
75 · Top 16%
vs69 · Top 24%
Growth
41 · Bottom 35%
vs47 · Bottom 46%
Climate
60 · Bottom 26%
vs62 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 10%
vs72 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 40%
vs84 · Bottom 25%
Access
99 · Top 4%
vs99 · Top 2%
Economic stability
72 · Top 23%
vs77 · Top 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Albany-Schenectady-Troy | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 906,052 | 704,836 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $88,074 | $98,233 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,088 | $47,550 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 322/sq mi | 438/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $285,900 | $393,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,280 | $1,638 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.2% | 68.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.1% | 36.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 10.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,904 | 1,930 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 2.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -16.7% | -12.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.7" | 41.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 34.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.5 | 39.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
75
Your Score
74
Area Score
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh
73
Your Score
70
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metro Area · Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology