Schenectady, NY at a glance
Median household income
$58,399$4,867 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Schenectady, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Schenectady, NY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,217 | $14,604 | $48,680 | 25% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,417 | $17,004 | $56,680 | 29.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,702 | $20,424 | $68,080 | 35% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,041 | $24,492 | $81,640 | 41.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,253 | $27,036 | $90,120 | 46.3% |
What a typical income covers in Schenectady, NY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $58,399 a year ($4,867 a month before tax).
What $58,399 leaves after New York taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New York tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New York
Living in Schenectady, NY: common questions
What is the median household income in Schenectady, NY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Schenectady, NY is $58,399 per year (approximately $4,867 per month).
What is the average rent in Schenectady, NY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,217 for a studio, $1,417 for one bedroom, $1,702 for two, $2,041 for three and $2,253 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Schenectady, NY expensive to live in?
Prices there run 0.4% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 99.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Schenectady, NY?
To keep a $1,702 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $68,080 a year, or $5,673 a month. That is 117% of what the typical household in Schenectady, NY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Schenectady, NY?
On the local median income of $58,399 ($4,867 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,433 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,460 for everything else and $973 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,702 takes 70% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Schenectady, NY?
Homes in New York paid 29.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $265. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.