American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Released

The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates on January 29, providing the most up-to-date demographic and economic data available for communities nationwide. This release reflects conditions across the 2020–2024 period and offers a comprehensive snapshot of population change and socioeconomic trends.

Across the Capital Region, all four counties: Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Rensselaer, experienced population growth over this period.

Source: American Community Survey (ACS), Table DP03 and DP05.

In absolute terms, Albany County recorded the largest increase, adding 10,853 residents, followed by Saratoga County with 8,971, Schenectady County with 5,283, and Rensselaer County with 1,319 new residents.

When looking at relative population growth, Saratoga County stands out, posting the highest percentage increase at 3.9 percent between 2020 and 2024. Albany County followed closely with a 3.5 percent increase, while Schenectady County grew by 3.4 percent. Rensselaer County experienced more modest growth, with an increase of 0.8 percent over the same period.

The ACS data also show rising median household incomes across all four counties, reflecting broader economic shifts during the study period. In Albany County, median household income increased from $68,327 in 2020 to $85,333 in 2024. Saratoga County saw median income rise from $85,224 to $100,787, remaining the highest in the region. Rensselaer County experienced an increase from $72,510 to $87,915, while Schenectady County’s median household income increased from $66,488 to $79,623.

These figures highlight continued growth and changing economic conditions across the Capital Region. As with all ACS data, users should note that 5-year estimates should only be compared with other non-overlapping 5-year periods to ensure accurate trend analysis.

CDRPC will continue to explore this data release in greater depth and share additional insights as new analyses are completed. The full 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates are available through the Census Bureau’s data portal at data.census.gov.