County profile · New York
Rensselaer County, NY market data
How Rensselaer County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 160,510
- −0.2% since 2020
- Households
- 66,686
- Median household income
- $87,915
- +27.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $258,400
- Jobs located here
- 52,657
- Highest market score
- 82
- Clothing and shoe stores, #120 of 2,087 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Rensselaer County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Rensselaer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Rensselaer County has an estimated 160,510 people and 66,686 households. Population estimates show Rensselaer County declined 0.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Rensselaer County is $87,915, 9% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 27.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Rensselaer County runs highest on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on gasoline and other fuels (73).
Of the business types scored in Rensselaer County, clothing and shoe stores (82), roofing and gutter companies (81) and gyms (81) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For clothing and shoe stores, that ranks #120 of 2,087 scored counties.
Rensselaer County is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (66% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Rensselaer County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Rensselaer County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing and shoe stores | 82 | #120 of 2,087 | 37 | 5.5 | $4.2M | 329 | 13 |
| Roofing and gutters | 81 | #43 of 1,177 | 6 | 0.9 | $35.7M | 422 | 3 |
| Gyms | 81 | #53 of 1,792 | 25 | 3.7 | $2.6M | 196 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 78 | #54 of 2,176 | 91 | 13.6 | Index only | 248 | 14 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 76 | #94 of 1,707 | 27 | 4.0 | $7.9M | 167 | 42 |
| Spas and skin care | 76 | #108 of 1,769 | 41 | 6.1 | $1.7M | 192 | 6 |
| Hair salons | 76 | #134 of 2,339 | 99 | 14.8 | $696K | 162 | 19 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 76 | #209 of 2,210 | 76 | 11.4 | $2M | 231 | 23 |
| Real estate | 74 | #129 of 2,229 | 112 | 16.8 | Index only | 253 | 39 |
| Home repair trades | 73 | #133 of 2,057 | 52 | 7.8 | $4.1M | 170 | 91 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 72 | #159 of 1,302 | 17 | 2.5 | $4.8M | 154 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 71 | #225 of 2,088 | 68 | 10.2 | $938K | 142 | 19 |
| Property management | 70 | #139 of 910 | 9 | 1.3 | Index only | 246 | 25 |
| Chiropractors | 70 | #227 of 1,490 | 21 | 3.1 | $3.9M | 163 | 8 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 67 | #463 of 2,222 | 65 | 9.7 | $4.2M | 138 | 116 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 66 | #414 of 2,385 | 202 | 30.3 | $341K | 160 | 44 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 64 | #161 of 777 | 14 | 2.1 | $4.6M | 112 | 4 |
| House cleaning | 64 | #162 of 847 | 7 | 1.0 | $12.5M | 196 | 29 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 64 | #371 of 1,461 | 12 | 1.8 | $3.7M | 147 | 6 |
| Physical therapy | 63 | #360 of 1,422 | 23 | 3.4 | $3.6M | 149 | 19 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 62 | #458 of 1,656 | 33 | 4.9 | $2.5M | 140 | 54 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 62 | #499 of 1,886 | 46 | 6.9 | $1.8M | 182 | 41 |
| Grocery stores | 61 | #648 of 2,070 | 41 | 6.1 | $11.2M | 120 | 32 |
| Dry cleaners | 59 | #176 of 507 | 8 | 1.2 | $19.4M | 124 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 59 | #400 of 1,334 | 29 | 4.3 | $2.2M | 109 | 15 |
| Child care and preschools | 59 | #565 of 1,611 | 33 | 4.9 | $1.2M | 121 | 45 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 59 | #637 of 2,063 | 49 | 7.3 | $5.6M | 151 | 44 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 59 | #790 of 2,405 | 593 | 88.9 | $462K | 124 | 283 |
| Car washes and detailing | 58 | #509 of 1,451 | 18 | 2.7 | $3.1M | 122 | 7 |
| Veterinarians | 58 | #535 of 1,485 | 16 | 2.4 | $2.8M | 103 | 8 |
| Nail salons | 57 | #477 of 1,328 | 27 | 4.0 | $2.6M | 153 | 18 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 57 | #853 of 2,405 | 323 | 48.4 | $847K | 128 | 122 |
| Insurance agencies | 57 | #866 of 2,272 | 49 | 7.3 | $2M | 162 | 32 |
| Electricians | 56 | #446 of 1,160 | 19 | 2.8 | $11.3M | 94 | 46 |
| Pet businesses | 56 | #806 of 2,200 | 51 | 7.6 | $878K | 100 | 21 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 56 | #929 of 2,402 | 139 | 20.8 | $3.3M | 97 | 58 |
| Pizza | 54 | #869 of 2,090 | 66 | 9.9 | $4.1M | 82 | 116 |
| Laundromats | 53 | #345 of 785 | 15 | 2.2 | $10.3M | 83 | 4 |
| Barbershops | 53 | #624 of 1,356 | 34 | 5.1 | $2M | 107 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 53 | #697 of 1,530 | 22 | 3.3 | $2.5M | 100 | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 53 | #744 of 1,771 | 47 | 7.0 | $1.9M | 111 | 98 |
| Convenience stores | 52 | #1,058 of 2,261 | 77 | 11.5 | $6M | 76 | 26 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 52 | #1,092 of 2,394 | 385 | 57.7 | $213K | 140 | 125 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 46 | #820 of 1,493 | 36 | 5.4 | $2.4M | 83 | 64 |
| Gas stations | 45 | #1,390 of 2,358 | 59 | 8.8 | $2.2M | 90 | 64 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 43 | #1,180 of 1,889 | 69 | 10.3 | $4M | 96 | 51 |
| Auto repair and car care | 42 | #1,540 of 2,401 | 192 | 28.8 | $287K | 107 | 102 |
| Home inspectors | 38 | #309 of 415 | 8 | 1.2 | Index only | 59 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 36 | #975 of 1,327 | 20 | 3.0 | $2.8M | 89 | 19 |
| Auto repair shops | 36 | #1,803 of 2,378 | 119 | 17.8 | $463K | 104 | 84 |
| Funeral homes | 33 | #1,155 of 1,472 | 29 | 4.3 | $317K | 47 | 12 |
| Pet stores | 29 | #788 of 974 | 13 | 1.9 | $3.4M | 76 | 7 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 23 | #307 of 325 | 7 | 1.0 | $11.7M | 48 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.6 | Index only | 787 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.6 | $13.8M | 100 | 4 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.6 | $21.9M | 214 | 5 |
Household spending in Rensselaer County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $55.1M | $827 | 86 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $127.1M | $1,906 | 73 |
| Food away from home | $273.7M | $4,105 | 101 |
| Groceries | $458.9M | $6,881 | 109 |
| Personal care products and services | $68.9M | $1,033 | 103 |
| Child care and other personal services | $40.2M | $602 | 104 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $63.8M | $956 | 97 |
| Medical and dental services | $82.1M | $1,232 | 96 |
| Pets | $44.8M | $671 | 74 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $154.8M | $2,322 | 113 |
| Vehicle insurance | $99.5M | $1,492 | 76 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $214.2M | $3,212 | 106 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $87.6M | $1,313 | 93 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.2B | $18,425 | 111 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Rensselaer County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 160,510−0.2% since 2020
- Households
- 66,686
- Median age
- 41.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 65%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 653 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 246
- Median household income
- $87,915+27.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $107,086
- Median home value
- $258,400
- Jobs located here
- 52,657
- Daytime population
- 135,820Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Rensselaer County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Rensselaer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Rensselaer County, NY growing?
Population estimates put Rensselaer County at 160,510 people in 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 66,686 households. Median household income rose 27.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Rensselaer County, NY spend?
Households in Rensselaer County spend about $1.2B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $458.9M on groceries and $273.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Rensselaer County spend the most on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on gasoline and other fuels (73).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Rensselaer County, NY?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Rensselaer County are for clothing and shoe stores (82), roofing and gutter companies (81) and gyms (81). Rensselaer County ranks #120 of 2,087 scored counties for clothing and shoe stores.
How does Rensselaer County, NY compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Rensselaer County is $87,915 a year, 9% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $258,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Rensselaer County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (66% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 53 of the 56 business types have a score in Rensselaer County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Rensselaer County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Rensselaer County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Rensselaer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.