Poverty and living standards in Schenectady, New York: official figures
23.8% of residents of Schenectady (15,570 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 60th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; New York: 14.0%).
How many children live in poverty in Schenectady?
35.7% of children under 18 in Schenectady lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (4,771 children), 29th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; New York: 18.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Schenectady?
By age, the poverty rate in Schenectady was 38.2% for children under 6 and 20.0% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Schenectady live in deep poverty?
8,216 people in Schenectady, 12.6% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 52nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Schenectady are cost-burdened?
58.5% of renting households in Schenectady spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (8,767 households), 178th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; New York: 52.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Schenectady spend half their income on rent?
38.2% of renting households in Schenectady spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 24th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Schenectady are food insecure?
An estimated 26.1% of adults in Schenectady experienced food insecurity in the past year, 99th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 21.5% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Schenectady compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Schenectady ranks 60 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | New Haven | 23.9% |
| 58 | Merced | 23.9% |
| 59 | Ann Arbor | 23.8% |
| 60 | Schenectady | 23.8% |
| 61 | Brownsville | 23.7% |
| 62 | Tallahassee | 23.6% |
| 63 | Shreveport | 23.5% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Schenectady ranks 29 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Springfield | 36.1% |
| 27 | Edinburg | 36.1% |
| 28 | Toledo | 36.0% |
| 29 | Schenectady | 35.7% |
| 30 | Galveston | 35.7% |
| 31 | Memphis | 35.7% |
| 32 | Hartford | 35.6% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Schenectady ranks 52 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Manhattan | 12.6% |
| 50 | Fayetteville | 12.6% |
| 51 | Camden | 12.6% |
| 52 | Schenectady | 12.6% |
| 53 | Canton | 12.5% |
| 54 | Buffalo | 12.5% |
| 55 | Springfield | 12.5% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Schenectady ranks 178 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 175 | Murrieta | 58.6% |
| 176 | Arcadia | 58.5% |
| 177 | Normal | 58.5% |
| 178 | Schenectady | 58.5% |
| 179 | Glendale | 58.4% |
| 180 | Trenton | 58.4% |
| 181 | Ocoee | 58.3% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Schenectady ranks 99 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Jurupa Valley | 26.3% |
| 97 | Stonecrest | 26.3% |
| 98 | Springdale | 26.2% |
| 99 | Schenectady | 26.1% |
| 100 | Mobile | 25.9% |
| 101 | Bellflower | 25.9% |
| 102 | Akron | 25.5% |
More on Schenectady: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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