Albany, NY vs Schenectady, NY
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Albany, NY and Schenectady, NY spend within 4.8% of each other per resident — $46,595 versus $44,459 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Albany, NY holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Schenectady, NY — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: police leads in Albany, NY at $3,815 per resident and in Schenectady, NY at $2,839.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Albany, NY at 22% of total revenue, whereas Schenectady, NY relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Albany spends 4.8% more per capita than Schenectady ($2,137/person difference). Albany, NY has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $1,242 | $64 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $26 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,947 | $12,933 |
| Other | $6,604 | $4,840 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $3,815 | $2,839 |
| Fire Protection | $558 | $406 |
| Highways & Roads | $391 | $440 |
| Public Welfare | $1,363 | $1,436 |
| Health | $91 | $899 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $34 |
| Parks & Recreation | $663 | $122 |
| Housing | $2,042 | $778 |
| Utilities | $13,046 | $9,610 |
| Interest on Debt | $88 | $47 |
| Other | $24,538 | $27,849 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.