Rensselaer County, New York: commercial real estate data.
Rensselaer County, New York has a population of 160,332 across 652 square miles, down 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $15.51 bn in 2024, 2,985 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 144 7(a) approvals worth $36.4 m.
128 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Rensselaer County
How many people live in Rensselaer County
- Population160,332
- Households66,686
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$87,915
- Median age40.1
- Median gross rent$1,217 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$258,400
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher37.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree15.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over113,756
- Population under 1830,562
- Share under 1819.1 percent
- Population 65 and over29,330
- Share 65 and over18.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64100,440
- Civilian labor force84,561
- Unemployment rate5.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.2 percent
- Rank by population among New York counties22nd of 62
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents433rd
Rensselaer County is the 22nd largest of 62 New York counties by population. A median home costs 2.9 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.1 percent against 18.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Rensselaer County
Is Rensselaer County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.24 percent
- Census 2020 base population161,130
- Births, 20241,502
- Deaths, 20241,620
- Natural change, 2024-118
- Net domestic migration, 202421
- Net international migration, 2024994
- Total net migration, 20241,015
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-1,774
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1934th
The county has lost 0.24 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration alone is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Rensselaer County
Where people moving to Rensselaer County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,787
- People arriving, from those returns7,201
- Adjusted gross income arriving$286.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$59,927
- Largest single originRensselaer County Non-migrants (63,461 households)
- Largest single destination (63,461 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rensselaer County Non-migrants | 63,461 | 116,679 | $5.28 bn |
| Albany County | 1,721 | 2,622 | $97.4 m |
| Other flows - Different State | 994 | 1,496 | $67.7 m |
| Saratoga County | 474 | 698 | $26.7 m |
| Other flows - South | 401 | 639 | $23.9 m |
| Schenectady County | 304 | 478 | $20.9 m |
| Other flows - Northeast | 293 | 410 | $18.6 m |
| Columbia County | 206 | 331 | $13.7 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Rensselaer County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Rensselaer County
What the Rensselaer County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$15.51 bn
- County GDP, 2023$14.67 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.7 percent
- GDP change over five years53.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among New York counties17th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents321st
- GDP per resident$96,726
Output grew 5.7 percent in the latest year and 53.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Rensselaer County
Who employs people in Rensselaer County
- Covered employment, annual average56,791
- Establishments reporting3,500
- Average annual pay$78,789
- Average weekly wage$1,515
- Sector 62, employment7,591
- Sector 62, average annual pay$56,787
- Sector 31-33, employment7,007
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$162,823
- Sector 44-45, employment5,682
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$38,894
- Sector 72, employment4,286
- Sector 72, average annual pay$27,903
- Sector 48-49, employment4,140
- Sector 23, employment2,871
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 7,591 | 318 | $56,787 |
| Sector 31-33 | 7,007 | 107 | $162,823 |
| Sector 44-45 | 5,682 | 427 | $38,894 |
| Sector 72 | 4,286 | 320 | $27,903 |
| Sector 48-49 | 4,140 | 57 | $67,567 |
| Sector 23 | 2,871 | 396 | $87,388 |
| Sector 61 | 2,798 | 52 | $77,979 |
| Sector 54 | 2,568 | 345 | $111,537 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 7,591 jobs, 13.4 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Rensselaer County
What businesses operate in Rensselaer County
- Establishments, all industries2,985
- Employment at those establishments46,817
- Annual payroll$3.21 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Rensselaer County
What is being built in Rensselaer County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 2024320
- Declared construction value permitted$73.6 m
- Single family units authorised160
- Multifamily units authorised160
- Multifamily share of units50.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$230,037
- Units authorised per 1,000 households4.8
Multifamily is 50.0 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Rensselaer County
How much SBA lending happens in Rensselaer County
- 7(a) approvals recorded144
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$36.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$252,705
- Median 7(a) approval$75,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$745,000
- Largest single approval$4,650,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,063
- Jobs per approval7.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active26
- Distinct industries receiving approvals80
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter125
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals3.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (8)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (26)
- 504 approvals recorded30
- 504 gross approval dollars$17.0 m
- Average 504 approval$566,867
- Median 504 approval$412,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval12.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved22.4
- Most active CDCEmpire State Certified Development Corporation (30)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals82.8 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$53.4 m
The average approval of $252,705 sits well above the median of $75,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 6.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Rensselaer County
Do SBA loans in Rensselaer County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded31
- Paid in full27
- Charged off4
- Charge off rate on resolved loans12.9 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure81
- Status: Paid in full27
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Cancelled24
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed8
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 12.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Rensselaer County
Which parts of Rensselaer County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending18
- Troy, approvals66
- Rensselaer, approvals24
- Wynantskill, approvals8
- CASTLETON ON HUDSON, approvals6
- EAST GREENBUSH, approvals5
- Stephentown, approvals4
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Troy | 66 | $21,458,500 |
| Rensselaer | 24 | $6,499,400 |
| Wynantskill | 8 | $786,200 |
| CASTLETON ON HUDSON | 6 | $529,500 |
| EAST GREENBUSH | 5 | $2,992,600 |
| Stephentown | 4 | $504,500 |
| BERLIN | 4 | $430,000 |
| SCHAGHTICOKE | 4 | $466,000 |
Troy accounts for 66 approvals against 24 in Rensselaer. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Rensselaer County
How big is Rensselaer County
- Land area652 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New York counties32nd of 62
- Width, east to west26.4 mi
- Height, north to south33.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land246
- Establishments per square mile4.58
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Rensselaer County
What hazards affect Rensselaer County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book22
- Of those, participating in the NFIP21
- NFIP participation rate95.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
The EPA places the county in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Rensselaer County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Rensselaer County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population160,332
- Households66,686
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$87,915
- Median age40.1
Common questions
Rensselaer County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Rensselaer County, New York?
160,332, in 66,686 households, ranking 22nd of 62 New York counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Rensselaer County growing?
The population has fallen 0.24 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 1,502 births against 1,620 deaths, with net migration of 1,015. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Rensselaer County?
$87,915. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $258,400, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,217 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Rensselaer County?
2,985 establishments, employing 46,817 people with an annual payroll of $3.21 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Rensselaer County?
Average annual pay is $78,789, or $1,515 a week, across 56,791 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Rensselaer County?
144 7(a) approvals totalling $36.4 m since FY2020, across 26 lenders, with a median approval of $75,000, plus 30 504 approvals worth $17.0 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Rensselaer County get paid back?
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 27 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge off rate of 12.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Rensselaer County?
320 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $73.6 m. Multifamily was 50.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Rensselaer County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Rensselaer County come from?
The largest single origin is Rensselaer County Non-migrants, with 63,461 households. Arriving households report an average income of $59,927 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Rensselaer County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Rensselaer County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.