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Rensselaer County, New York: crime rate, income and local data
Rensselaer County averaged 2.0 reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents a year in 2021-2025, 46% lower than the New York rate (3.8). The median household earns $87,915 and the unemployment rate was 3.9% in August 2026. Population: about 160,332 (Census, 2020-2024).
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Rensselaer County?
From 2021 through 2025, Rensselaer County averaged 330 reported violent crimes a year, along with 2,252 property crimes. Per 1,000 residents, the violent-crime rate works out to 2.0: 46% lower than the New York rate (3.8), and 45% lower than the national rate (3.7). For property crime the county rate is 13.9 per 1,000 (New York: 15.7; U.S.: 18.1). Aggravated assaults make up 69% of the violent total. CDC death records show about 6 homicide deaths a year in the county (3.9 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Rensselaer County | Per 1,000 | New York per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 330 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 3 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 28 | 0.17 | 0.26 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 70 | 0.43 | 1.0 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 228 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 2,252 | 13.9 | 15.7 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 264 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 1,828 | 11.3 | 12.9 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 160 | 0.99 | 1.4 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (8 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Rensselaer County?
Half of households in Rensselaer County make more than $87,915 and half make less; across New York the midpoint is $85,974. The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $250,000+ by its owners; renters pay a median $1,217. 10.9% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 15.6%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 3.9% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 3,242 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Rensselaer County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 160,332 | 19,852,366 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $87,915 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $250,000+ | $423,800 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,217 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 5.3% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 11.8% | 14.0% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 10.9% | 15.6% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 37.6% | 40.2% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 64.8% | 54.3% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 40.1 | 39.8 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 91.6% | 90.8% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 3.4% | 5.1% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Rensselaer County?
Rensselaer County carries a “Relatively Moderate” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. No single hazard among floods, wildfire, tornadoes, heat waves, earthquakes and hurricanes is rated higher than “Relatively Moderate”. The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
2 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Rensselaer County: Dewey Loeffel Landfill and Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
The National Inventory of Dams lists 10 high-hazard dams in Rensselaer County. 2 are rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 8 Satisfactory or Fair. The two tallest are Tomhannock Reservoir Dam (68 ft) and Martin Dunham Reservoir Dam (59 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
8 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 330,305 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
Rensselaer County was covered by 1 federal major disaster declaration from 2016 through 2025 (Snowstorm 1), not counting COVID-19. Of 38 community water systems, none had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 1 (highest). NHTSA counted 13 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 1 pedestrian.
Is there road construction in Rensselaer County?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 5 highway work zones in Rensselaer County (3 active that day). Roads listed: I-90, NY 66 and NY 151. 2 are on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Rensselaer County?
Federal school lists show 41 public and 10 private schools in the county. 9 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 48 fire or EMS stations and 8 police or sheriff stations. 3 state parks or recreation areas: Cherry Plain State Park, Grafton Lakes State Park and Schodack Island State Park.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Rensselaer County
Gun shops
4 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Rensselaer County, plus 18 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). On the ATF list: Fox Manor Firearms INC (Averill Park), Smitty Trapping Supplies (Schaghticoke), Triquetra Arms LLC (Castleton On Hudson) and Uncle Sam Outfitters INC (Troy).
Liquor stores
22 liquor stores are on the map in Rensselaer County: Creekside Wine And Liquor Barn LLC (Johnsonville), Dave's Liquor Store (Stephentown), Grapeful Wines And Spirits INC (Castleton), Grapes & Grains Wines & Liquors (Rensselaer), Hannaford Plaza Wine & Liq (East Greenbush), Heller's Ss&P Wine & Liquor Warehouse (West Sand Lake), Hometown Wine & Liquor LLC (Troy), Hometown Wine And Spirits (Nassau) and 14 more.
Planned Parenthood
One Planned Parenthood health center is on the map in Rensselaer County: Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood Troy Health Clinic (Troy).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Rensselaer County?
Rensselaer County averaged 330 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 2.0 per 1,000 residents, 46% lower than the New York rate (3.8). The property-crime rate was 13.9 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Rensselaer County?
$87,915 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $85,974 for New York and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Rensselaer County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 3.9% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 3,242 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Rensselaer County?
Rensselaer County carries a “Relatively Moderate” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. No single hazard among floods, wildfire, tornadoes, heat waves, earthquakes and hurricanes is rated higher than “Relatively Moderate”.
Are there Superfund sites in Rensselaer County?
2 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Rensselaer County: Dewey Loeffel Landfill and Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics.
Is there road construction in Rensselaer County right now?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 5 highway work zones in Rensselaer County (3 active that day). Roads listed: I-90, NY 66 and NY 151. 2 are on interstates.
How many nursing homes are in Rensselaer County?
9 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Rensselaer County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany County | 317,018 | 3.7 | $85,333 |
| Bennington County, VT | 37,269 | 2.7 | $73,325 |
| Berkshire County, MA | 129,430 | 4.2 | $76,013 |
| Columbia County | 61,100 | 0.53 | $81,528 |
| Greene County | 47,409 | 0.44 | $77,945 |
| Saratoga County | 238,284 | 0.80 | $100,787 |
| Washington County | 60,522 | 0.89 | $73,495 |
Cities in Rensselaer County with their own page: Troy.
More: New York statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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