Population

Schenectady

68,521

Waterloo

66,947

Median Income

Schenectady

$56,398

Waterloo

$56,344

Home Value

Schenectady

$152,000

Waterloo

$150,200

Rent

Schenectady

$1,109

Waterloo

$896

Crime Rate

Schenectady

6.46

Waterloo

4.76

Cost of Living

Schenectady

101.7

Waterloo

91.8

Avg Temp

Schenectady

N/A

Waterloo

N/A

Unemployment

Schenectady

8.9%

Waterloo

6.4%

Loading map…

How Similar Are Schenectady & Waterloo?

Waterloo is Schenectady's #2 most similar city

6/10

6 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Schenectady

68,521

vs

Waterloo

66,947

Match · 2% difference

Both cities have similar populations — Schenectady at 68,521 and Waterloo at 66,947.

Violent Crime

Schenectady

6.46

vs

Waterloo

4.76

Different · 26% difference
🚨

Schenectady has a 26% higher violent crime than Waterloo.

Property Crime

🔒

Schenectady

31.29

vs

Waterloo

24.45

Different · 22% difference

Schenectady has a 22% higher property crime than Waterloo.

Political Leaning

Schenectady

44.6%

vs

Waterloo

48.8%

Match · 9% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 9% difference.

Unemployment

💼

Schenectady

8.9%

vs

Waterloo

6.4%

Different · 28% difference

Schenectady has a 28% higher unemployment than Waterloo.

Median Income

Schenectady

$56,398

vs

Waterloo

$56,344

Match · 0% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 0% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Schenectady

$152,000

vs

Waterloo

$150,200

Match · 1% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 1% difference.

Education

Schenectady

15.7%

vs

Waterloo

14.9%

Match · 5% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 5% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Schenectady

49.9%

vs

Waterloo

69.1%

Different · 28% difference

Waterloo has a 28% higher demographics than Schenectady.

Cost of Living

Schenectady

101.7

vs

Waterloo

91.8

Match · 10% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 10% difference.

6 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Schenectady and Waterloo share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Schenectady

vsof 8

0

Waterloo

Waterloo leads in 5 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Waterloo leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Waterloo has a fair market rent (1br) of $801 vs $1,417 in Schenectady (77% lower). Waterloo has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,051 vs $1,702 in Schenectady (62% lower). Waterloo scores 94.5 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 121.3 in Schenectady.

Overall Cost Index

Schenectady101.7
Waterloo91.8

Housing Index

Schenectady121.3
Waterloo94.5

Food Index

Schenectady93.1
Waterloo93.1

Transportation Index

Schenectady86.2
Waterloo86.1

Healthcare Index

Schenectady94.5
Waterloo94.5

Utilities Index

Schenectady100.1
Waterloo94.7

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Schenectady$44,768
Waterloo$40,397

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Schenectady$105,816
Waterloo$95,483

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Schenectady$1,417
Waterloo$801

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Schenectady$1,702
Waterloo$1,051

Housing Market — Waterloo leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Waterloo has a median property tax of $2,498 vs $4,925 in Schenectady (97% lower). Waterloo has a single-family homes of 72.9% compared to 41.9% in Schenectady. Waterloo has a owner-occupied of 61.1% compared to 44.8% in Schenectady.

Median Home Value

Schenectady$152,000
Waterloo$150,200

Median Rent

Schenectady$1,109
Waterloo$896

Median Property Tax

Schenectady$4,925
Waterloo$2,498

Owner-Occupied

Schenectady44.8%
Waterloo61.1%

Vacancy Rate

Schenectady8.2%
Waterloo10.0%

Single-Family Homes

Schenectady41.9%
Waterloo72.9%

Jobs & Economy — Waterloo leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Waterloo has a poverty rate of 16.4% compared to 23.1% in Schenectady. Waterloo has a unemployment rate of 6.4% compared to 8.9% in Schenectady. Schenectady has a work from home of 8.8% compared to 7.1% in Waterloo.

Median Household Income

Schenectady$56,398
Waterloo$56,344

Per Capita Income

Schenectady$31,536
Waterloo$33,372

Poverty Rate

Schenectady23.1%
Waterloo16.4%

Unemployment Rate

Schenectady8.9%
Waterloo6.4%

Labor Force

Schenectady33,873
Waterloo34,480

Mean Commute

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Work from Home

Schenectady8.8%
Waterloo7.1%

Private Sector

Schenectady87.7%
Waterloo93.3%

Government Sector

Schenectady41.8%
Waterloo44.2%

Crime & Safety — Waterloo leads

Source: FBI UCR

Waterloo has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.35 compared to 1.01 in Schenectady. Waterloo has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.05 compared to 0.10 in Schenectady. Waterloo has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 16.59 compared to 25.08 in Schenectady.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady6.46
Waterloo4.76

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady31.29
Waterloo24.45

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady0.10
Waterloo0.05

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady1.01
Waterloo0.35

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady4.78
Waterloo3.98

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady4.01
Waterloo5.86

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Schenectady25.08
Waterloo16.59

Violent Crime Clearance

Schenectady43.3%
Waterloo58.2%

Property Crime Clearance

Schenectady17.9%
Waterloo23.4%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Avg Annual High

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Avg Annual Low

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Sunny Days per Year

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Annual Rainfall

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Annual Snowfall

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Avg Humidity

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Schools & Education

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Waterloo has a high school diploma or higher of 38.3% compared to 35.9% in Schenectady. Schenectady has a bachelor's degree or higher of 15.7% compared to 14.9% in Waterloo.

Public Schools

Schenectady0
Waterloo0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Colleges & Universities

Schenectady0
Waterloo0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Schenectady15.7%
Waterloo14.9%

High School Diploma or Higher

Schenectady35.9%
Waterloo38.3%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Schenectady has a population of 68,521, about 1x the size of Waterloo (66,947).

Population

Schenectady68,521
Waterloo66,947

Median Age

Schenectady36
Waterloo37

Avg Household Size

Schenectady2.3
Waterloo2.3

Married Population

Schenectady29.1%
Waterloo34.8%

Foreign Born

Schenectady15.4%
Waterloo9.5%

White

Schenectady49.9%
Waterloo69.1%

Black

Schenectady20.8%
Waterloo17.2%

Hispanic

Schenectady13.3%
Waterloo7.6%

Asian

Schenectady5.8%
Waterloo2.6%

Schenectady

Waterloo

Healthcare — Waterloo leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Waterloo: 3.5 vs Schenectady: 2.8 for avg cms rating (out of 5). Waterloo: 5 vs Schenectady: 4 for with emergency services.

Nearby Hospitals

Schenectady5
Waterloo5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Schenectady2.8
Waterloo3.5

With Emergency Services

Schenectady4
Waterloo5

Transportation & Commute

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Schenectady has a public transit of 8.0% compared to 0.4% in Waterloo. Waterloo has a bicycle of 0.4% compared to 0.2% in Schenectady. Schenectady has a work from home of 8.8% compared to 7.1% in Waterloo.

Mean Commute Time

SchenectadyN/A
WaterlooN/A

Drive Alone

Schenectady67.7%
Waterloo77.8%

Public Transit

Schenectady8.0%
Waterloo0.4%

Bicycle

Schenectady0.2%
Waterloo0.4%

Work from Home

Schenectady8.8%
Waterloo7.1%

Airports

Schenectady0
Waterloo0

Cities Similar to Schenectady, NY

Compare Schenectady against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

Explore These Cities

Compare Different Cities