Region · Hudson Valley · Mohawk Valley
Capital Region towns, ranked
The Capital Region has 37 cities and villages in scope on Comeback Towns, across 8 counties (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, Washington). By readiness grade, 5 are A, 7 are B, 8 are C, 9 are D, 8 are F; by momentum, 5 rising, 22 steady, 6 fading. The highest readiness is Watervliet (75.4, grade A) and the strongest momentum is Saratoga Springs (73.5, rising). Median home values (ACS 2020-2024) run from $102,000 in Whitehall to $478,100 in Saratoga Springs.
Readiness asks whether the ingredients for a revival are present; momentum asks whether anything is happening now. Grades are curved within population band, labels are absolute. Figures as published 2026-11-02. How the scores work.
Albany County · 8Columbia County · 5Greene County · 3Rensselaer County · 4Saratoga County · 8Schenectady County · 1Warren County · 2Washington County · 6
Cheapest Capital Region towns
Lowest median home value, ACS 5-year 2020-2024. All towns by price →
| Town | Pop. | Grade | Readiness | Momentum | Home value | To NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehall Washington | 2,482 | C | 50.8 | ▶ STEADY 51 | $102,000 | 4 h 55 min |
| Green Island Albany | 2,971 | D | 48.0 | NO LABEL · 2 OF 4 | $138,300 | 3 h 15 min |
| Granville Washington | 2,420 | F | 38.4 | ▶ STEADY 55 | $143,100 | 4 h 44 min |
| Hoosick Falls Rensselaer | 3,190 | C | 52.4 | ▶ STEADY 56 | $154,600 | 3 h 56 min |
| Waterford Saratoga | 2,020 | B | 59.1 | NO LABEL · 2 OF 4 | $157,500 | 3 h 22 min |
| Hudson Falls Washington | 7,359 | F | 44.2 | ▶ STEADY 42 | $165,200 | 4 h 14 min |
Closest to New York City
Shortest drive by road, OSRM routing. Best value within an hour →
| Town | Pop. | Grade | Readiness | Momentum | Home value | To NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catskill Greene | 3,723 | A | 74.4 | ▶ STEADY 44 | $242,500 | 2 h 34 min |
| Hudson Columbia | 5,735 | B | 66.9 | ▼ FADING 35 | $389,900 | 2 h 41 min |
| Athens Greene | 1,577 | D | 46.7 | NO LABEL · 2 OF 4 | $325,600 | 2 h 42 min |
| Coxsackie Greene | 2,686 | C | 48.0 | ▶ STEADY 49 | $300,300 | 2 h 44 min |
| Philmont Columbia | 1,483 | D | 47.7 | ▼ FADING 21 | $225,000 | 2 h 50 min |
| Ravena Albany | 3,246 | F | 37.2 | ▶ STEADY 44 | $209,100 | 2 h 50 min |
Capital Region towns near a train
Within two miles of an Amtrak or Metro-North station, nearest the city first. All towns near a train →
| Town | Pop. | Grade | Readiness | Momentum | Home value | To NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson Columbia | 5,735 | B | 66.9 | ▼ FADING 35 | $389,900 | 2 h 41 min |
| Athens Greene | 1,577 | D | 46.7 | NO LABEL · 2 OF 4 | $325,600 | 2 h 42 min |
| Rensselaer Rensselaer | 9,453 | A | 72.1 | ▶ STEADY 54 | $208,900 | 3 h 8 min |
| Scotia Schenectady | 7,321 | A | 71.9 | ▶ STEADY 56 | $189,900 | 3 h 26 min |
| Saratoga Springs Saratoga | 28,741 | D | 45.2 | ▲ RISING 74 | $478,100 | 3 h 45 min |
| Fort Edward Washington | 3,138 | C | 52.1 | ▶ STEADY 59 | $176,100 | 4 h 8 min |
Rising in the Capital Region
Momentum v2: home values, permits, population and county migration against New York benchmarks. All rising towns →
| Town | Pop. | Grade | Readiness | Momentum | Home value | To NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saratoga Springs Saratoga | 28,741 | D | 45.2 | ▲ RISING 74 | $478,100 | 3 h 45 min |
| Lake George Warren | 1,007 | B | 59.3 | ▲ RISING 71 | $301,900 | 4 h 16 min |
| South Glens Falls Saratoga | 3,723 | D | 41.1 | ▲ RISING 62 | $212,700 | 4 h 7 min |
| Greenwich Washington | 1,669 | B | 57.9 | ▲ RISING 62 | $209,500 | 4 h 3 min |
| Stillwater Saratoga | 1,759 | F | 36.8 | ▲ RISING 62 | $271,900 | 3 h 46 min |
Every Capital Region town by readiness
| Town | Pop. | Grade | Readiness | Momentum | Home value | To NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watervliet Albany | 10,268 | A | 75.4 | ▼ FADING 36 | $179,700 | 3 h 15 min |
| Catskill Greene | 3,723 | A | 74.4 | ▶ STEADY 44 | $242,500 | 2 h 34 min |
| Schuylerville Saratoga | 1,354 | A | 72.4 | ▶ STEADY 49 | $215,900 | 4 h |
| Rensselaer Rensselaer | 9,453 | A | 72.1 | ▶ STEADY 54 | $208,900 | 3 h 8 min |
| Scotia Schenectady | 7,321 | A | 71.9 | ▶ STEADY 56 | $189,900 | 3 h 26 min |
| Cohoes Albany | 18,530 | B | 68.5 | ▼ FADING 32 | $223,400 | 3 h 18 min |
| Hudson Columbia | 5,735 | B | 66.9 | ▼ FADING 35 | $389,900 | 2 h 41 min |
| Colonie Albany | 7,691 | B | 65.0 | ▶ STEADY 45 | $285,400 | 3 h 12 min |
| Lake George Warren | 1,007 | B | 59.3 | ▲ RISING 71 | $301,900 | 4 h 16 min |
| Waterford Saratoga | 2,020 | B | 59.1 | NO LABEL · 2 OF 4 | $157,500 | 3 h 22 min |
| Greenwich Washington | 1,669 | B | 57.9 | ▲ RISING 62 | $209,500 | 4 h 3 min |
| Glens Falls Warren | 14,455 | C | 57.4 | ▶ STEADY 49 | $212,200 | 4 h 7 min |
| Kinderhook Columbia | 1,148 | B | 54.0 | ▶ STEADY 42 | $372,400 | 3 h 3 min |
| Hoosick Falls Rensselaer | 3,190 | C | 52.4 | ▶ STEADY 56 | $154,600 | 3 h 56 min |
| Fort Edward Washington | 3,138 | C | 52.1 | ▶ STEADY 59 | $176,100 | 4 h 8 min |
| Whitehall Washington | 2,482 | C | 50.8 | ▶ STEADY 51 | $102,000 | 4 h 55 min |
| Ballston Spa Saratoga | 4,930 | C | 50.5 | ▶ STEADY 47 | $308,200 | 3 h 45 min |
| Nassau Rensselaer | 1,091 | C | 50.3 | NO LABEL · 2 OF 4 | $239,200 | 3 h 11 min |
| Menands Albany | 4,501 | C | 49.3 | ▼ FADING 39 | $271,300 | 3 h 9 min |
| Mechanicville Saratoga | 5,083 | D | 49.1 | ▶ STEADY 56 | $186,500 | 3 h 36 min |
| Coxsackie Greene | 2,686 | C | 48.0 | ▶ STEADY 49 | $300,300 | 2 h 44 min |
| Green Island Albany | 2,971 | D | 48.0 | NO LABEL · 2 OF 4 | $138,300 | 3 h 15 min |
| Philmont Columbia | 1,483 | D | 47.7 | ▼ FADING 21 | $225,000 | 2 h 50 min |
| Cambridge Washington | 1,801 | D | 47.3 | ▶ STEADY 52 | $193,800 | 4 h 7 min |
| Altamont Albany | 1,651 | D | 47.2 | ▶ STEADY 48 | $318,900 | 3 h 30 min |
| Athens Greene | 1,577 | D | 46.7 | NO LABEL · 2 OF 4 | $325,600 | 2 h 42 min |
| Saratoga Springs Saratoga | 28,741 | D | 45.2 | ▲ RISING 74 | $478,100 | 3 h 45 min |
| Hudson Falls Washington | 7,359 | F | 44.2 | ▶ STEADY 42 | $165,200 | 4 h 14 min |
| Castleton-on-Hudson Rensselaer | 1,471 | D | 43.2 | ▶ STEADY 57 | $222,600 | 3 h 12 min |
| South Glens Falls Saratoga | 3,723 | D | 41.1 | ▲ RISING 62 | $212,700 | 4 h 7 min |
| Granville Washington | 2,420 | F | 38.4 | ▶ STEADY 55 | $143,100 | 4 h 44 min |
| Ravena Albany | 3,246 | F | 37.2 | ▶ STEADY 44 | $209,100 | 2 h 50 min |
| Stillwater Saratoga | 1,759 | F | 36.8 | ▲ RISING 62 | $271,900 | 3 h 46 min |
| Corinth Saratoga | 2,638 | F | 36.2 | ▶ STEADY 58 | $188,100 | 4 h 9 min |
| Chatham Columbia | 1,547 | F | 35.6 | ▼ FADING 30 | $323,100 | 3 h 1 min |
| Voorheesville Albany | 2,846 | F | 34.8 | ▶ STEADY 47 | $324,700 | 3 h 21 min |
| Valatie Columbia | 1,709 | F | 32.1 | ▶ STEADY 49 | $325,100 | 3 h 4 min |
37 towns. Grades rank a town against others of its population band, so a B in a village and a B in a city mean the same rank, not the same number. Compare any three.