Median Income
$71,985
household / year
Median Home Value
$185,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$766
gross / month
Cost of Living
94
national avg = 100

Is Alden, NY a Good Place to Live?

Alden is a small town of 2,606 in New York, with a median household income of $71,985 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Alden stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Alden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alden city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 94.4

Alden's overall cost of living index is 94.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alden costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric Alden, NY National Avg
Median Home Value $185,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $766 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 68.3% 65.9%
Median Household Income $71,985 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Alden's violent crime rate is 238.6 per 100,000 residents — 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
238.6 /100k
Property Crime
1352.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alden is served primarily by ALDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Alden, NY National Avg
School District ALDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
Elementary Schools 2 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 12.3:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 27.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 94.6% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alden sees average highs of 31.5°F in January and 78.8°F in July, with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation and 109.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricAlden, NY
Average High — January31.5°F
Average High — July78.8°F
Annual Precipitation41.6"
Annual Snowfall109.3"

Demographics

MetricAlden, NYNational Avg
Population2,606—
Median Age41.538.9
Unemployment Rate6.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time29.1 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)98.1%59.3%
Black or African American0.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.0%18.9%
Asian1.0%6.3%
Under 1819.8%22.2%
65 and over18.0%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Town Line, NY 4 mi Corfu, NY 6 mi Clarence, NY 7 mi Akron, NY 8 mi Elma Center, NY 9 mi

Alden vs Other Cities

Alden, NY vs Town Line, NY Alden, NY vs Corfu, NY Alden, NY vs Clarence, NY Alden, NY vs Akron, NY Alden, NY vs Elma Center, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Alden's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alden roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $185,700 and median rent is $766/month.
Alden's violent crime rate is 238.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1352.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Alden are operated by ALDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Alden, NY has a population of 2,606, a median household income of $71,985, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Alden averages 31.5°F in January and 78.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches with about 109.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Alden, New York is 2,606 with a median age of 41.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Alden: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $185,700, median household income $71,985, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.