The Albany metro is home to 902,372 people (up 2.5% over five years), with a median household income of $86,072. Typical rent of $1,693/month works out to 23.6% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Albany's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 26.6% |
| Professional & management | 12.0% |
| Retail trade | 9.9% |
| Public administration | 9.8% |
| Manufacturing | 8.2% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 23.6% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Albany market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,693/month suggests a household income around $68,000/year. The metro's median household income is $86,072.
By workforce share: Education & health care (26.6%), Professional & management (12.0%), Retail trade (9.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).