Schenectady, NY vs Albany, 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 Schenectady, NY at $2,839 per resident and in Albany, NY at $3,815.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Schenectady, NY at 100% of total revenue, whereas Albany, NY relies most on other revenue at 22%.
Summary
Albany spends 4.6% 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 | $64 | $1,242 |
| Income Tax | $26 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $12,933 | $3,947 |
| Other | $4,840 | $6,604 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,839 | $3,815 |
| Fire Protection | $406 | $558 |
| Highways & Roads | $440 | $391 |
| Public Welfare | $1,436 | $1,363 |
| Health | $899 | $91 |
| Hospitals | $34 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $122 | $663 |
| Housing | $778 | $2,042 |
| Utilities | $9,610 | $13,046 |
| Interest on Debt | $47 | $88 |
| Other | $27,849 | $24,538 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.