The typical owner-occupied home in Schenectady County is worth about $235,700, 44% below the New York median of $423,800 and 29% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $5,568 a year in property taxes, about 2.36% of their home's value, higher than the New York rate of 1.55%. The median household earns $79,623 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (4.9 times for New York). 64% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 63% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Schenectady County at a glance
| Schenectady County | New York | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,700 | $423,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $5,568 | $6,582 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 2.36% | 1.55% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $79,623 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 64% | 54% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 63% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,875 | $2,555 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.7% | 22.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,194 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 32.1% | 31.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1956 | 1959 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.1% | 10.0% | 10.1% |
| Population | 160,369 | 19,852,366 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Schenectady County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Schenectady County home of $235,700 with 20% down costs about $1,830 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,223, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $78,438 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Schenectady County household income of $79,623; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $239,000.
The median rent here is $1,194 a month, so owning the median home costs about $636 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $47,140 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $188,560 |
| Principal and interest | $1,268 |
| Property taxes (2.36% a year) | $464 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $98 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,830 |
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| Down payment | $8,250 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $231,431 |
| Principal and interest | $1,557 |
| Property taxes (2.36% a year) | $464 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $98 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $104 |
| Total per month | $2,223 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Schenectady County
What is the median home value in Schenectady County?
About $235,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Schenectady County?
Homeowners pay a median $5,568 a year, which is about 2.36% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Schenectady County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,830 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $78,438 a year.
More about Schenectady County
- Mortgage Refinance in Schenectady County
- Debt Relief in Schenectady County
- Home Equity Loans in Schenectady County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data