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💰️ The wealthiest ZIP codes in the Capital Region

Plus, 🎟️ your full weekend guide + Feel Good Friday ⛺️

Author

Phat Chiem
July 26, 2024

Happy Friday, Capital District! Today we’re taking a look at where the wealthiest people in the region live—and what they do. Plus, we’ve got your guide to a 🔥 summer weekend!

You 🦦 keep readin’…

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

In partnership with

Today in The 518

  • The Capital District’s wealthiest neighborhoods 🤑 

  • Troy mayor’s potty mouth caught on tape 😡 

  • Free 🍦 in Glenmont + your full weekend guide 🎟️ 

  • Feel Good Friday: Friends for 40 years 🏕️ 

📣 TALK OF THE TOWN

No surprise: Albany’s Center Square is packed with high earners 📷️ via Zillow

Where to find the ‘wealthiest’ in town

It’s not hard to guess where the wealthiest people in the Capital District live. Follow the money and you’ll find yourself in places like Loudonville, Niskayuna, Averill Park, Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park. The median salaries here are well over six figures.

For the voyeur in all of us, the Albany Business Review compiles an annual list of the region’s wealthiest ZIP codes. But this year, the publication switched it up a bit. Instead of ranking neighborhoods simply by median income, the list now looks at another key factor: population density.

The rankings now consider the concentration of high earners, not just income levels. For example, a dense urban neighborhood might outrank a more sparse area, even though the residents individually might earn less than the few wealthy people in that area.

Under this new system, here are the top 3 places in the ABR’s Wealthiest ZIP Codes rankings:

12210: Center Square, Hudson/Park, Arbor Hill (Albany)

12309: All of Niskayuna, plus some neighborhoods off Upper Union Street in Schenectady

12208: Portions of Buckingham Lake, Pine Hills, Normanskill (Albany)

Without taking density into consideration, here’s what you would get:

Source: Albany Business Review

Now that’s interesting! Roughly 1 out of every 3 households in Rexford earns over $200K 🤑 Wow!

Also, “wealthy” is defined here by median income. And we all know making a lot of money isn’t the same as having a lot of wealth.

What’s perhaps more fascinating than where rich people live is how they got their bag. This Reddit thread—What do wealthy people in the Capital Region suburbs do for a living?—has some answers.

🌞 WEATHER WATCH

“Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” —Henry David Thoreau

Need to fix your roof or paint your deck? This is the weekend to do it with little chance of rain in the forecast.

☀️ Friday 84°/61° 💧 0%

🌤️ Saturday 90°/63° 💧 0%

🌤️ Sunday 95°/65° 💧2%

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🗞️ CAPITAL DISTRICT DIGEST

Troy mayor’s potty mouth

It’s never a dull day in Troy. Mayor Carmella Mantello was caught on tape having an expletive-laden argument with a local business owner who was voicing his frustrations about construction in the city. “We're getting ready to close the doors, because it's just not profitable at this point,” said Anthony DeMeo of Bob DeMeo’s Discount Wine and Liquor, who blames construction for driving away customers. The mayor had a rather strong response. [WAMC]

Also: Mayor’s proposal to replace Troy’s planning commission approved [News10]

Cambridge Central School bans phones

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to ban smartphones inside New York schools. Cambridge Central isn’t waiting for the new legislation. The Washington County school district will make all schools phone-free starting this fall. [107.7 GNA]

Free ice cream at Glenmont Stewart’s Shop

In honor of its grand re-opening, the Stewart’s Shops at 33 Frontage Road is giving away single scoops of ice cream all day Friday. Plus, get coffee, tea, hot dogs and pizza slices for 99 cents. And all gas is 20 cents off per gallon. [News10]

G. Love at Frog Alley Brewing Co. on Sunday

🎟️ FULL WEEKEND ROUNDUP

⭐️ = The 518 Staff Picks

FRIDAY 

⭐️ Saratoga County Fair | Through Sunday in Ballston Spa. $15 general admission; children under 12 are free; $30 for all rides. Highlights this year include comedy juggler Neils Duinker, BMX bicycle stunt group Dialed Action Sports, the Wild West Show, Saratoga’s Got Talent, and the always-popular demolition derby.

⭐️ Open Studios at Collar Works | 6-9p, Fri, free. During Troy Night Out, see the current exhibition “Lightfast” and three floors of artists’ studios, including works from current residents and other local artists.

‘Top Gun’ Extravaganza | 5:30p, Fri, $15. Empire State Aerosciences Museum, Glenville. Join an engaging presentation from F-4 Phantom pilot, Lt. Col. Dan Petkunas, followed by a screening of “Top Gun” in the hangar by the F-5 aircraft.

⭐️ Enchanting Threads: The Art of Salley Mavor | 5:30-7:30p, Fri. Albany Institute of Art & History. Tickets: $25 for members, $35 for non-members. Join opening night for the museum’s newest exhibition, featuring 80 stunning embroidered, fabric relief pieces and three-dimensional sculptures crafted by award-winning artist Salley Mavor. Meet the artist and immerse yourself in her whimsical world of wee folk and blossom fairies.

Pond Exploration at Wilton Wildlife | 11a-noon, Fri, free. Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, 90 Scout Rd, Gansevoort. Join experts in identifying insects, amphibians, and other wildlife in this cute outdoor excursion.

Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay | 8:30p, Fri. Tickets start at $48.50. The Listeso String Quartet performs the music of Coldplay, lit by hundreds of candles.

Nine Pin Playland @ Huck Finn’s | 7p-midnight, Fri, $35.98. It’s the adult version of the county fair. Come for a 21+ night of rides, DJ music and cider!

SATURDAY

⭐️ Summer Art Fest: 2-7p, Sat, free. Quackenbush Square. Albany Center Gallery’s inaugural Summer Art Fest features live painters, popup art gallery, kids art corner, food and music. You won’t want to miss this interactive, immersive all-ages arts festival!

State Street Yoga | 10a, Sat, free. SUNY Plaza, Albany. Join an all-levels yoga class on the beautiful lawn at SUNY Plaza, led by instructors from Hot Yoga Spot.

⭐️ Four Tet UPSTATE | 5-10p, Sat. Tickets start at $42.33. 3311 New York 23A, Palenville. The experimental electronic music artist plays at Griffin House.

⭐️ Caribbean Fest ‘24: 11a-6p, Sat, free. Over 2,000 people are expected to converge at Jennings Landing in Albany for this festival celebrating the food and culture of the Caribbean. There will be stilt walkers, children’s activities and plenty of dancing! It doesn’t stop until the wee hours at the Caribbean Bashment afterparty.

Midsummer Madness: A Shakesperience | 4-6p, Sat, free. Lionheart on the Green, 952 Broadway, Albany. In Midsummer Madness, the cast and audience collaboratively create a unique show each performance, first by selecting that performance’s role assignments a bare 5 minutes before the performance begins!

Galway Blueberry Festival | 9a-2p, Sat, free. 5910 Sacandaga Rd., Galway. Come out for a variety of vendors, food, and of course, blueberries.

Albany: Crossroads of History | 11a, Sat, free. Ten Broeck Mansion, Albany. Discover how Albany was a crossroads for arts and horticulture from around the world in this free talk.

Moonbow #7: Concert in the Meeting House | 6p, Sat, $10 suggested donation. Shaker Historical Society, Albany. Moonbow is an arts organization devoted to presenting multimedia events. Tonight’s show features Dei Xhrist, a vocalist merging opera, sound poetry, and noise into sacred experiences that are profanely cathartic; and Brian Dewan, a musician and visual artist who writes songs and collects songs from earlier generations.

SUNDAY

⭐️ G. Love & Special Sauce | 7-8:30, Sun. Tickets start at $39.50. The laidback Philly rockers bring their signature blend of blues, hip hop, rock, and soul to Schenectady’s Frog Alley Brewing Company—with special guest Brett Dennen.

Albany County Farmer’s Market | 10a-2p, free. In front of MVP Arena. A vibrant, open-air market series with fresh, high-quality food and artisan goods sourced from local farmers and producers.

🏕️ FEEL GOOD FRIDAY

Amsterdam HS buds still bonding after 40 years 📷️ via The Daily Gazette

Friends for 40 years: Amsterdam High buddies celebrate decades of bonding over beer & camp fires

One thing you notice about getting older: It gets harder to keep in touch with old friends and make new ones.

For one group of best buds from Amsterdam High School’s Class of 1986, it’s so not problem. What started as an unplanned camping trip before their senior year has grown into an annual tradition four decades in the making. The men will celebrate their 40th trip this weekend in New Milford, Conn. Some are coming from as far as Florida, Texas, and even Thailand. [Daily Gazette]

Get yourself a group of friends like this, and if you have one already, keep in touch! Loneliness is the silent killer that’s as deadly as smoking.

🎸 LIVE MUSIC ROUNDUP

Friday 7/26

Club d’Elf with Reese Gabrels | Mojo’s Cafe & Gallery

The Crane Wives | Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock

Kids Bop | SPAC

Saturday 7/27

The Mountain Goats | Bearsville Theater, Woodstock

Hozier | Bethel Woods

Triskele | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

*Moonbow #7 | Shaker Meeting House

Sunday 7/28

G. Love & Special Sauce with Brett Dennen | Frog Alley Brewing Co. Summer Stage

The Head And The Heart | Palace Theatre

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