At $1,877/mo, rent takes about 32% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,877 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Rensselaer changed +2.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 82 New York cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($70,080) is $1,752 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,600); a 3-bedroom is $1,930.
Albany, 4 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,664/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Rensselaer. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Rensselaer, NY is majority renter-occupied, 26.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Rensselaer, NY has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $70,080 today, compared with $66,136 five years earlier. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 31.8% to 26.1% across the same window.
Discussions about Rensselaer
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Rensselaer on your salary?
At $1,877/mo, how Rensselaer rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Rensselaer rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Rensselaer. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Rensselaer
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Rensselaer is $1,877/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,160/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,600/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,320/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,930/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($70,080/yr), Rensselaer ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Rensselaer?
Is rent going up or down in Rensselaer?
How does Rensselaer rent compare to other cities in New York?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Rensselaer?
At $1,877/mo, rent takes ~32% of Rensselaer's median household income ($70,080/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Rensselaer.
No discussions yet.