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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Rensselaer, NY Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q2 2024. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Rensselaer, NY Housing Market Trends

With 9,248 people, 4,344 houses or apartments, and a median cost of homes of $224,333, house prices in Rensselaer are solidly below the national average.

Duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings are the single most common housing type in Rensselaer, accounting for 36.79% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Rensselaer include single-family detached homes ( 29.52%), large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 23.86%), and a few row houses and other attached homes ( 9.07%). This particular housing mix is relatively uncommon and characteristic of cities that are compact and walkable, and which often have a lively downtown.

People in Rensselaer primarily live in small (one, two or no bedroom) units, chiefly found in duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings. Rensselaer has a mixture of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing.

The housing in Rensselaer was primarily built before 1939 ( 33.55%), making the housing stock in Rensselaer some of the oldest overall in America, although there is a range of ages of homes in Rensselaer. The next most important housing age is between 1970-1999 ( 30.29%), followed by between 1940-1969 ( 19.79%). There's also some housing in Rensselaer built between 2000 and later ( 16.37%).

Vacant housing appears to be an issue in Rensselaer. Fully 12.10% of the housing stock is classified as vacant. Left unchecked, vacant Rensselaer homes and apartments can be a drag on the real estate market, holding Rensselaer real estate prices below levels they could achieve if vacant housing was absorbed into the market and became occupied. Housing vacancy rates are a useful measure to consider, along with other things, if you are a home buyer or a real estate investor.

Rensselaer Home Appreciation Rates

Rensselaer's appreciation rate notably has been below the national average for the last ten years. The average annual home appreciation rate in Rensselaer during the period has been just 5.03%, which is lower than 80% of US communities.

Over the last year, Rensselaer appreciation rates have trailed the rest of the nation. In the last twelve months, Rensselaer's appreciation rate has been 2.37%, which is lower than appreciation rates in most communities in America. In the latest quarter, NeighborhoodScout's data show that house appreciation rates in Rensselaer were at -0.27%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of -1.06%.

Notably, Rensselaer's appreciation rate in the latest quarter is one of the lowest in America.

Relative to New York, our data show that Rensselaer's latest annual appreciation rate is lower than 90% of the other cities and towns in New York.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within Rensselaer differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in Rensselaer - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best Rensselaer real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$224,333

Rensselaer, NY Home Prices
> $1,273,000
$955,001 - $1,273,000
$636,001 - $955,000
$509,001 - $636,000
$382,001 - $509,000
$255,001 - $382,000
$127,001 - $255,000
$64,001 - $127,000
$0 - $64,000
0.5%
0.5%
0.4%
0.4%
0.0%
0.0%
0.2%
0.2%
11.3%
11.3%
37.1%
37.1%
35.0%
35.0%
8.0%
8.0%
7.5%
7.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Low

for New york

Low

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

4,344

Rensselaer Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$1,828 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
42.3%
42.3%
57.7%
57.7%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
12.1%
12.1%
87.9%
87.9%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
16.4%
16.4%
30.3%
30.3%
19.8%
19.8%
33.5%
33.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
29.5%
29.5%
9.1%
9.1%
36.8%
36.8%
23.9%
23.9%
0.8%
0.8%
0.0%
0.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
1.2%
1.2%
22.4%
22.4%
38.2%
38.2%
27.3%
27.3%
6.4%
6.4%
4.5%
4.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes