Capital Region Is NY’s 3rd Fastest-Growing Region

Saratoga and Schenectady counties Lead state for domestic migration

The Capital Region was New York’s third fastest-growing region for population in 2024, according to a Census for Economic Growth analysis of U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

Region Performance

Between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024, the eight-county Capital Region’s population increased by 5,314 (0.5 percent) to 1,115,663. Only the New York City (1.0 percent) and Hudson Valley (0.8 percent) had faster annual population growth rates. In terms of volume, the Capital Region had New York’s fourth greatest increase in residents, trailing Long Island (13,266), the Hudson Valley (20,186) and New York City (87,184).

County Performance

At 1.2 percent, Schenectady County had the fourth fastest population growth rate among New York’s 62 counties. Within the Capital Region, Albany County had the largest population gain at 1,964, followed by Schenectady County at 1,883 and Saratoga County at 1,487. Schenectady County was also the only county in the Capital Region with positive natural growth (90), with births outnumbering deaths.

 Metro Area Performance

In 2024, the five-county Albany-Schenectady-Troy metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had a population of 913,485. That was up 6,262 (0.7 percent) from the previous year. Among New York’s 13 MSAs, that was the second largest increase in residents and the third fastest growth rate.

Net Migration

Driving the Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA’s population growth was 5,572 in net international migration, meaning more people from outside the country moved into the metro area than those moving from it to destinations abroad. That marked a 20.8 percent increase in net internation migration from the previous year and was more than six times greater than it was in 2021.

The Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA’s net domestic migration was 1,080 in 2024, meaning more people from within the country moved into the metro area than those moving out of it to elsewhere in the U.S. It was the only MSA in the state to experience annual net domestic migration growth. Out of 49 Northeast metros, the Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA ranked sixth for net domestic migration.

Saratoga and Schenectady counties had the state’s first and second largest gains in domestic migration, at 983 and 970, respectively. Rensselaer (21) and Greene counties (2) also had smaller domestic migration gains.