Rents are 3% below what Schenectady's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,517 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
November. Asking rents in Schenectady usually run 0.6% below trend in November and 0.8% above it in July, about $21 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Schenectady is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2016.
Rent in Schenectady changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 82 New York cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Schenectady rose 35% while median household income rose 28.5% ($45,438 to $58,399). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Schenectady is 41.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($58,399) is $1,460 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,412); a 3-bedroom is $1,702.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Schenectady, 12306 ($1,696/mo), costs 21% more than the cheapest, 12305 ($1,403/mo).
Amsterdam, 15 miles away, rents for 22% less ($1,185/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Schenectady. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Schenectady, NY is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 25.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Schenectady, NY has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Schenectady, NY has climbed from $1,126 to $1,517, a 34.7% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $50,237 in 2021 to $58,399 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 3.1% since 2021, moving from about 66,809 residents to roughly 68,847. College-educated residents now make up 25.4% of adults here, versus 22.8% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Schenectady, NY market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Schenectady on your salary?
At $1,517/mo, how Schenectady rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Schenectady rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Schenectady. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Schenectady
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Schenectady is $1,517/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,023/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,412/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,165/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,702/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($58,399/yr), Schenectady ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Schenectady rent compare to other cities in New York?
At $1,517/mo, rent takes ~31% of Schenectady's median household income ($58,399/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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