Albany Metro Has NY’s Largest Population Gain in 2023
- 1st largest annual population gain among NYS metros: Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA
- 3rd largest annual population gain among NYS counties: Albany County
- 3rd largest annual increase in domestic migration among NYS counties: Warren County
- 5th largest annual population gain among NYS counties: Saratoga County
The Albany-Schenectady-Troy metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in 2023 had the largest annual population gain among New York’s 13 metro areas, and Albany County had the third biggest increase in residents among the state’s 62 counties, according to a Center for Economic Growth (CEG) analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Metro Performance
As of July 1, 2023, the five-county Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA’s estimated population was 904,682, up 1,087 (0.12 percent) from a year earlier. That was the largest year-over-year increase in population among New York’s 13 metro areas, followed by the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh MSA with an annual gain of 520 (0.074 percent). The Glens Falls MSA, which includes Warren and Washington counties, saw an annual population decline of 810 (-0.64 percent).
“The Albany metro area remains a destination for talent. Our opportunities for skilled workers will only grow as major projects, such as GlobalFoundries second chip fab in Saratoga County and Albany Nanotech Complex’s expansion in Albany County, get underway. These projects will play a role in changing migration flows back into the region and will provide a great incentive for the workers who were trained at our many institutions to stay here,” said CEG President and CEO Mark Eagan.
County Performance
Boosting the metro area’s population was Albany County, which saw its number of residents increase over the year by 738 (0.2 percent) to 316,659. That was the third largest annual population gain in the state. In the metro area, Saratoga (+243), Schenectady (+208) and Schoharie (+12) counties experienced annual increases in population while Rensselaer County saw an annual loss (-116). New York County had the state’s largest year-over-year increase in population (+2,908), followed by Orange County (+979).
Regional Performance
The eight-county Capital Region’s population was estimated at 1,107,536 as of July 1, 2023. That was down 658 (.1 percent) from a year earlier and the second-smallest annual decline among New York’s 10 economic development regions, trailing the Hudson Valley (-3). Within the region, Washington County had the largest annual population decline (-763), followed by Columbia County (-638) and Greene (-283). Warren County’s population declined by 47.
Migration
International migration boosted the Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA’s between July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023. Its increase in international migration of 2,012 – the third largest in the state – offset the metro area’s domestic migration loss of 643. The Glens Falls MSA had an annual gain in international migration (+42), but that was offset by losses in domestic migration (-382). The Glens Falls and Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSAs had the state’s third and fourth smallest declines in domestic migration, respectively.
Among Capital Region counties, Warren County had the state’s third largest domestic migration gain (+235) and Saratoga County had the 11th (+72). Columbia County had the region’s largest annual loss in domestic migration (-430), followed by Albany County (-328) and Rensselaer County (-267).
CEG INITIATIVES
In April 2021, CEG launched a talent attraction campaign using the CapNY brand, along with a website – GoCapNY.com – and its associated social media channels. To help attract even more young professionals to the Capital Region, CEG launched a CapNY Connectors initiative. The Connectors are local residents who love living in the Capital Region and who have volunteered to share that love to help connect prospective new residents to our community. They work in diverse industries, pursue unique interests, and come from all walks of life. The CapNY Connectors are available to answer questions and discuss first-hand experience of what it’s like to work and live in CapNY.
Young professionals can find a connector who shares their interests and ambitions by checking out the profiles on the GoCapNY website. Website visitors who are unsure of whom they should connect with, can fill out the form to provide some additional details, and the CapNY networking team will make a connection for them.
Visit CapNY Connectors at https://gocapny.com/capny-connectors.
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