Kiryas Joel, NY
The Satmar Chasidic town in Orange County, New York — founded in the 1970s by the Satmar Rebbe, organized around Congregation Yetev Lev and its kehilla, and among the youngest and fastest-growing places in the United States.
Orthodox Jewish communities in Upstate New York
2 communities compared — 10 shuls, 2 day schools and 3 mikvaos on the map.
Upstate New York's Orthodox life takes two very different forms. In Orange County, about an hour north of the city, Kiryas Joel is a whole town built around the Satmar kehilla — founded in the 1970s by the Satmar Rebbe, and today one of the youngest and fastest-growing places in the country.
Two hours further north, Albany, the state capital, has a small, close Orthodox community around Whitehall Road and New Scotland Avenue, with two shuls, a day school through twelfth grade and a mikvah within walking distance of each other — and some of the lowest housing costs on ShulMap.
Map of Orthodox Jewish communities in Upstate New York
Loading the Upstate New York map…
- Shul
- Walking radius (approx.)
Compare them side by side
| Guide | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel, NY Kiryas Joel, NY | 8 | · | 1 | 2 | $$ | $487k | |
| Albany Albany, NY | 2 | · | 1 | 1 | $–$$ | $265k | Moving guide → |
The communities
Albany
The Orthodox community of New York's capital, around Whitehall Road and New Scotland Avenue — Beth Abraham-Jacob, the Shteeble, Maimonides Hebrew Day School and a community mikvah within a short walk of each other.
We're adding shuls, kosher places, schools and eruv detail across these communities all the time. Leave your email and we'll tell you when the map gains something where you're looking.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Orthodox Jewish communities in Upstate New York?
ShulMap maps 2 Orthodox communities in Upstate New York: Kiryas Joel and Albany. Together they have 10 shuls on the map, plus 2 day schools and 3 mikvaos. Each has its own page with a walkable shul map.
Which community in Upstate New York has the most shuls?
Kiryas Joel has the most on ShulMap, with 8 mapped, followed by Albany (2). Shul count is a rough guide to community size, not to fit — a smaller community with a daily minyan near housing you can afford may suit a family better than a bigger one.
Which is the most affordable Orthodox community in Upstate New York?
By the US Census median home value for each community's ZIP (2020–2024), Albany ($264,700) is the most affordable in Upstate New York, and Kiryas Joel ($486,800) the most expensive. These are ZIP-wide figures as valued by owners — asking prices usually run higher, and each relocation guide says which sections cost what.
Which communities in Upstate New York have a mikvah and day schools?
ShulMap has mikvaos mapped in Kiryas Joel and Albany. Day schools are mapped in Kiryas Joel and Albany. A community without one on the map may still have one we have not added yet, and families commonly use institutions in a neighboring community.
Is there an eruv in these communities?
It differs community by community, and ShulMap never infers one. Each community page carries its own eruv detail with the source and the date it was last checked. Always confirm with your local rav or the eruv hotline before carrying on Shabbos.
Walking distance: Walking-distance circles are approximate and do not assert a halachic standard. Confirm what is walkable for you locally.
ShulMap is an independent directory. Listings and routes are informational — verify all details directly with the source.