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Economic Profile

Rensselaer County is an appealing blend of high-tech and rural influences, making it a great place to live and work.

Population: Rensselaer County: 159,722  |  Capital District: 854,768

Size: 665 square miles

Municipalities: 14 townships, 2 cities, 6 villages (Discover Towns & Villages)

Total employer establishments (2014): 2,997

Median Age: 39.8

Median Household Income: $61,754


Arts & Cultural Institutions

Colleges and Universities

More than 66,000 students are enrolled in the Capital Region’s colleges and universities. Rensselaer County, in particular, is home to these members:

Additional higher education member institutions include:

  • Empire State College, a multi-site institution offering associate, bachelor's, master's degrees and distance learning degrees.
  • Excelsior College, a private, non-profit college offering undergraduate and graduate level degrees.
  • University at Albany – SUNY, an internationally recognized research institute in New York State’s capital.
  • Siena College, a private, Catholic, liberal arts college.
  • The College of St. Rose, ranked as a Best Northern University by U.S. News & World Report.

Primary and Secondary Education

Rensselaer County public school district members include:

Private and independent member schools include:


Health Care

Rensselaer County is home to world-renowned health care.

  • St. Peter's Health Partners is a comprehensive regional network of high-quality, advanced medical care, primary care, rehabilitation and senior services provided throughout the region. St. Mary's Hospital and Samaritan Hospital in Troy are undergoing a transformational master facilities plan that will reconfigure and consolidate the hospitals to provide greater access, efficiency and fiscal sustainability, with the ultimate goal of a reinvigorated, state-of-the-art health care presence for the community.
  • Albany Medical Center EmUrgent Care is urgent care facility staffed by emergency medicine-trained providers located on Hoosick Street in Brunswick.

Transportation

Situated at the confluence of rivers, highways and rail, Rensselaer County and its gateway communities are linked by a variety of transportation systems and are surrounded by Interstates 87,90 and 787, providing easy access to major metropolitan areas of New York and the Northeast.

  • Albany International Airport is within minutes of Rensselaer County. As the major air center for the Capital Region, Northeastern New York and Western New England, the Albany International Airport offers a wide range of facilities and services.
  • The Rensselaer Rail Station was the first major rail center built in the United States in more than 50 years. The station is the ninth busiest Amtrak station in the network across the country with more than 800,000 customers passing through every year. The region is one of the few places in the country that can travel north, east, south or west by rail.
  • CDTA delivers transit services that take people where they want to go in the Capital Region safely, efficiently and at a reasonable cost.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:  Edward Parham VP of Public Relations Rueckert Advertising and Public Relations Tel: (518) 446-1091   MARIA COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH 24 HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND EDUCATION ACCESS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS   ALBANY, N.Y. (October 3, 2025) — Maria College today announced a partnership with 24 Capital Region human…
Dear Community Members, We are pleased to share an exciting opportunity for Rensselaer County residents and grassroots organizations. The “What If…” Mini Grant Program is designed to support small-scale projects (up to $5,000) that bring people together and create positive change in our community. Eligibility Open to all residents of Rensselaer…
ALBANY, N.Y. (September 30, 2025) — Maria College has been awarded a five-year, nearly $5 million grant from the New York State Department of Health to enhance student support services and address the region’s critical nursing workforce shortage.   The funding, awarded through the department’s new Healthcare Education and Life-skills Program (HELP…
Oct
08
Join the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Colonie Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate our anniversaries with this very special…
October 8th, 5:00pm-7:30pm
Oct
08
The 1 Million Cups Monthly Meetings are happening throughout 2025 in the Chamber's 1st Floor Conference Room. Held every second Wednesday of the month,…
Wednesday, October 8, 9:00am-10:00am
Oct
21
Join us for our October Rising Professionals Meeting. This month's topic will be announced via email soon. Please stay tuned for this month's speaker.  …
Tuesday, October 21, 8:30am-9:30am