Best Life Index › States › New York › Cities › Schenectady

New York city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Schenectady?

What it costs to live in Schenectady, and how it compares with other New York cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

42

103rd best value in New York

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New York cities.

Overall livability

20

130th overall in New York

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Schenectady is home to about 66,809 people. A typical home runs $118,300 and a household earns around $50,200, a price-to-income ratio of 2.4. Among New York's largest cities, it ranks 103rd for value and 130th overall.

Schenectady at a glance

Median home price

$118,300

21st in NY of 135

Median rent

$965/mo

Median household income

$50,200

Home price to income

2.4x

Unemployment

10.0%

131st in NY of 135

School rating

3/10

116th in NY of 135

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NY of 135

Walk score

7/100

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‹ See all top New York cities ranked  ยท  New York state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New York only. Updated 2026.