Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 36001

Albany County, New York

County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.

Population317,018
Household income$85,333
Unemployment3.3%
Life expectancy78.5 years

County overview

Living metrics at a glance

Albany County has 317,018 residents and ranks #14 by population among New York county equivalents. Median household income is $85,333. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.3%. Its clearest relative strength is poor or fair health. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.

Within New York

County population range

The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.

State rank#14 of 62
Smallest county317,018 residentsKings County

Relocation guide

Moving to Albany County: what to check

Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.

Before moving

Before moving, compare municipalities inside Albany County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is poor or fair health.

Cost and housing

Housing benchmarks are $294,600 median home value and $1,313/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $85,333, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

Who it may suit

Albany County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing poor or fair health, bachelor’s degree or higher, and mental health access. College attainment is 46.4% and life expectancy is 78.5 years.

Potential advantages

  • Poor or fair health: 12.4%, rank #4 of 62 available New York counties.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 46.4%, rank #5 of 62 available New York counties.
  • Mental health access: 1 per 222 residents, rank #5 of 62 available New York counties.

Trade-offs to check

  • Median home value: $294,600, rank #47 of 62; investigate local variation before moving.
  • Median gross rent: $1,313/mo, rank #47 of 62; investigate local variation before moving.
  • Life expectancy: 78.5 years, rank #21 of 62; investigate local variation before moving.

Income, housing, jobs, education & health

County metrics within New York

Rank and range use only counties in New York with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.

Median household income $85,333

$85,333; above the state county median of $72,022.

State rank #14 of 62 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value $294,600

$294,600; above the state county median of $189,000.

State rank #47 of 62 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent $1,313/mo

$1,313/mo; above the state county median of $986/mo.

State rank #47 of 62 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate 3.3%

3.3%; below the state county median of 3.7%.

State rank #6 of 62 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher 46.4%

46.4%; above the state county median of 29.4%.

State rank #5 of 62 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy 78.5 years

78.5 years; above the state county median of 77.7 years.

State rank #21 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health 12.4%

12.4%; below the state county median of 15.4%.

State rank #4 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured 4.5%

4.5%; below the state county median of 5%.

State rank #15 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access 1 per 1,039 residents

1 per 1,039 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,809 residents.

State rank #7 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access 1 per 222 residents

1 per 222 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 403 residents.

State rank #5 of 62 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Common questions

Albany County FAQ

Is Albany County a good place to live?

Albany County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing poor or fair health, bachelor’s degree or higher, and mental health access. College attainment is 46.4% and life expectancy is 78.5 years.

What should I know before moving to Albany County?

Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $294,600 median home value and $1,313/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $85,333, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

What is the population of Albany County?

Albany County has 317,018 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.

What is the FIPS code for Albany County?

The five-digit county FIPS code is 36001; the parent state FIPS is 36.

What is the median household income in Albany County?

The ACS median household income is $85,333.

How much does housing cost in Albany County?

Housing benchmarks are $294,600 median home value and $1,313/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $85,333, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

What is the unemployment rate in Albany County?

The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.3%.

Similar population

Nearby counties in the state ranking

Source and gate

Methodology and source periods

All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.

Continue exploring

See the state context