Albany Apartments and Rentals

The city of Albany has undergone significant growth since it was founded as a small Dutch settlement in 1624. Today, it's the capital of one of the most populous states in America and is located in the heart of Eastern New York, a region that's come to be known as "Tech Valley." People in the market for Albany apartments for rent have several neighborhoods to choose from in this city of nearly 98,000 residents.

British explorer Henry Hudson discovered Albany while on an expedition to find a shorter route to the Far East. After being settled by the Dutch in 1624, Albany was given its charter by Governor Thomas Dongan in 1686. Much about the city is different today, but traces of its Dutch heritage remain - including the Quackenbush House, which was built in circa 1736 and currently houses the Olde English bar.

Albany was named the capital of New York in 1797, but the capitol building that is arguably its most famous landmark was not completed until the late 1800s. Although the original architect, Thomas Fuller, incorporated a dome into its design, the final product did not include one. Leopold Eidlitz and Henry Hobson Richardson - the two architects who replaced Fuller - chose to blend Italian Renaissance, Romanesque and French Renaissance styles into the five-story building, which is 400 feet long and 300 feet wide.

Albany is comprised of several neighborhoods, including the South End district, which borders the Hudson River in the southeast of the city, and Arbor Hill in the northeast section. People who prioritize a strong sense of community may find Park South to their liking, as its approximately 2,000 residents pride themselves on their tight-knit neighborhood culture.

Albany is very much a regional center of education. The city's school district serves approximately 8,600 students in 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, one establishment for pre-K through eighth graders and one comprehensive high school. Additionally, more than 100,000 students of further education attend the area's colleges and universities, including Excelsior College, the College of Saint Rose, Albany Medical College and Albany Law School, the oldest independent law school in the nation. Hudson Valley Community College, located in nearby Troy, boasts state-of-the-art facilities including an ice rink and a telecommunications center, complete with a 250-seat auditorium.

Albany County's largest employers include the federal, state and county governments, General Electric, Verizon and Albany Medical Center, the only academic health sciences center in northeastern New York.

Albany ranked at 110.1 on City-Data.com's March 2012 cost of living index - higher than the national average of 100. The median gross rent of apartments in Albany is $815, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sports fans will be in their element in Albany. Take in hockey, football and basketball games at the Times Union Center Arena, baseball at Heritage Park and horse racing at Saratoga. For golfers, the Capital Hills Golf Course is one of the area's most scenic, with six holes that border the picturesque Norman's Kill creek.

History buffs should find something to their liking as well, as the area is filled with historic sites and landmarks. These include the first Shaker Meeting House and the Casparus F. Pruyn House, a restored home in nearby Colonie.

Albany also hosts several much-anticipated annual events, including the Riverfront Jazz Festival, the Alive at Five Summer Concert Series and the Albany Tulip Festival, which features the Tulip Queen Coronation and Royal Tulip Ball.

To find your next rental apartment or house in Albany, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.