Rensselaer County Demographics

A map of Rensselaer County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	126,252	124,600	78.7%	77.3%
Black	10,426	11,800	6.5%	7.3%
Hispanic	9,863	9,482	6.2%	5.9%
Multiracial	7,728	8,504	4.8%	5.3%
Asian	5,123	5,711	3.2%	3.5%
Native American/Other	940	1,033	0.6%	0.6%

Rensselaer County, New York has an estimated population of 160,332, a less than 1% change from the 161,130 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 78.7% White, 6.5% Black, 6.2% Hispanic, 4.8% Multiracial, 3.2% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Rensselaer County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Rensselaer has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than New York overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Rensselaer County, that probability was 38.9% in 2020 and 36.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Rensselaer County is ranked the 22nd most populous county in New York, out of 62 counties. Rensselaer County was ranked the 21st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Rensselaer County's White Population

126,252 residents of Rensselaer County, or 78.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Rensselaer County is significantly higher than in New York overall, where 52.8% of the population is White. Rensselaer County ranks 41st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 62 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rensselaer County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.3%. White residents' share of Rensselaer County's population has increased from 77.3% to 78.7%.

Rensselaer County is more White than neighboring Albany County (68% White). Rensselaer County is less White than neighboring Berkshire County (84.8% White), Columbia County (82.4% White), Bennington County (90.8% White), and Saratoga County (86.8% White).

Rensselaer County's Black Population

10,426 residents of Rensselaer County, or 6.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Rensselaer County is lower than in New York overall, where 13.4% of the population is Black. Rensselaer County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 62 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rensselaer County's Black population has declined by an estimated 11.6%. Black residents' share of Rensselaer County's population has decreased from 7.3% to 6.5%.

Rensselaer County is more Black than neighboring Berkshire County (2.6% Black), Columbia County (3.5% Black), Bennington County (1.1% Black), and Saratoga County (1.6% Black). Rensselaer County is less Black than neighboring Albany County (11.5% Black).

Rensselaer County's Asian Population

5,123 residents of Rensselaer County, or 3.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Rensselaer County is lower than in New York overall, where 9% of the population is Asian. Rensselaer County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 62 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rensselaer County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 10.3%. Asian residents' share of Rensselaer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.2%.

Rensselaer County is more Asian than neighboring Berkshire County (1.9% Asian), Columbia County (2.1% Asian), Bennington County (0.9% Asian), and Saratoga County (3% Asian). Rensselaer County is less Asian than neighboring Albany County (7.5% Asian).

Rensselaer County's Hispanic Population

9,863 residents of Rensselaer County, or 6.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Rensselaer County is considerably lower than in New York overall, where 19.8% of the population is Hispanic. Rensselaer County ranks 25th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 62 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rensselaer County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 4.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Rensselaer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.2%.

Rensselaer County is more Hispanic than neighboring Berkshire County (5.9% Hispanic), Bennington County (2.8% Hispanic), and Saratoga County (3.9% Hispanic). Rensselaer County is less Hispanic than neighboring Columbia County (6.3% Hispanic), and Albany County (7.3% Hispanic).

Rensselaer County's Native American/Other Population

940 residents of Rensselaer County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Rensselaer County is comparable to the share in New York overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Rensselaer County ranks 39th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 62 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rensselaer County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 9.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Rensselaer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Rensselaer County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Columbia County (0.8% Native American/Other), and Albany County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Rensselaer County's Multiracial Population

7,728 residents of Rensselaer County, or 4.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Rensselaer County is comparable to the share in New York overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Rensselaer County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 62 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rensselaer County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 9.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Rensselaer County's population has decreased from 5.3% to 4.8%.

Rensselaer County is more Multiracial than neighboring Berkshire County (4.3% Multiracial), Bennington County (3.9% Multiracial), and Saratoga County (4% Multiracial). Rensselaer County is less Multiracial than neighboring Albany County (5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.