Albany County, New York
A shallow water table limits basements on 51% of Albany County's mapped land, a higher share than 67% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on under 1%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 49 flood losses here since 2016, 79% of them in buildings with basements. 68% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1964.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Albany County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.3% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 50.8% |
| Septic fields very limited | 78.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.8% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.3% |
| Urban land, not rated | 3.6% |
| Mapped soil | 341,000 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Nunda | 14% | n/a |
| Burdett | 8% | n/a |
| Hudson | 5% | n/a |
| Lordstown | 4% | n/a |
| Arnot | 4% | n/a |
| Colonie | 4% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas NY001 (2025-09-02)
What the numbers mean here
On 51% of Albany County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 40.81 in, 0.79 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 41.60 in.
USDA rates 79% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. No part of the county was in drought in the last 52 weeks.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
49 flood losses since 2016, $607,305 paid. The worst year was 2026, with 17. Foundations of the buildings, where recorded: 79% basements, 12% slabs, 9% elevated. Median water depth outside the building: 12 in.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 to date | 17 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 41.60 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 40.81 in (-0.79) |
| 2025 | 39.20 in (-2.40) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2011: 58.33 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1964: 24.27 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at ALCOVE DAM (9 mi away) | 10 |
Homes
| Housing units | 147,662 |
| Median year built | 1964 |
| Built before 1980 | 68% |
| Built 2000 or later | 14% |
| Owner-occupied | 57% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $294,600 |
| Single-family detached | 50% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schenectady County, NY | 16 mi | 1% | 51% |
| Greene County, NY | 23 mi | 1% | 35% |
| Schoharie County, NY | 24 mi | 3% | 46% |
| Rensselaer County, NY | 25 mi | 0% | 49% |
| Columbia County, NY | 29 mi | 1% | 28% |
| Montgomery County, NY | 31 mi | 3% | 48% |
| Saratoga County, NY | 36 mi | 0% | 37% |
| Berkshire County, MA | 41 mi | 0% | 33% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 2, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status