The Town FilesRotterdam, New York
Town in Schenectady County · population 30,523 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,000
- Household income
- $86,331
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 39.9
Rotterdam is a town of 30,523 people in Schenectady County, New York. The median home is worth $227,000, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 79% of New York towns, more vibrant than 79% of New York towns, better for cycling than 71% of New York towns.
How Rotterdam ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rotterdam is worth $227,000, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $86,331, which is more affordable than 59% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,292 a month. 74.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rotterdam | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,292 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $86,331 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Rotterdam
| People | Rotterdam | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Rotterdam
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 58.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rotterdam since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 22, 2014 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Schenectady County since 1996
Schenectady County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Schenectady County
Schenectady County had 58,509 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,794 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Rotterdam itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Rotterdam
- Scotia, NY3.0 mi · 7,272 people · home $189,900
- Rotterdam, NY3.5 mi · 22,968 people · home $214,400
- Schenectady, NY4.3 mi · 67,047 people · home $168,800
- Glenville, NY5.4 mi · 29,326 people · home $257,400
- East Glenville, NY5.5 mi · 11,896 people · home $296,200
- Niskayuna, NY6.3 mi · 20,787 people · home $357,900
- Guilderland, NY7.7 mi · 36,848 people · home $357,400
- Duanesburg, NY8.5 mi · 5,863 people · home $295,100
Rotterdam questions
Is Rotterdam, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rotterdam scores better for retirees than 14% of New York towns and quieter than 23%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Rotterdam?
The median owner-occupied home in Rotterdam is valued at $227,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,331, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,292 a month.
What is the weather like in Rotterdam?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 58.3 inches of snow.
Does Rotterdam get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rotterdam since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2014. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)