What are the schools like in Albany, GA?

Albany is served primarily by Dougherty County. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Albany?

The median household income in Albany, GA is $43,724 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.3%.

What is the weather like in Albany, GA?

Albany has an average high temperature of 62.0°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.6 inches.

Albany, GA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Albany, GA affordable or expensive?

Albany's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Albany is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $111,200 and the median rent is $889 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Albany, GA?

Albany has a violent crime rate of 823.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1608.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Albany, GA a Good Place to Live?

Albany is a mid-sized city of 68,926 in Georgia, with a median household income of $43,724 and a 10.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Albany is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Albany 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: 86.4

Albany's overall cost of living index is 86.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Albany costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Albany, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$111,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$889	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	40.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,724	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Albany's violent crime rate is 823.6 per 100,000 residents — 117% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

823.6 /100k

Property Crime

1608.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Albany is served primarily by Dougherty County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Albany, GA	National Avg
School District	Dougherty County	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Albany sees average highs of 62.0°F in January and 93.2°F in July, with 46.6 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Albany, GA
Average High — January	62.0°F
Average High — July	93.2°F
Annual Precipitation	46.6"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Albany, GA	National Avg
Population	68,926	—
Median Age	34.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	19.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	75.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	24.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Putney, GA 8 mi Leesburg, GA 11 mi Baconton, GA 14 mi Sasser, GA 14 mi Sylvester, GA 20 mi

ZIP Codes in Albany

Albany, GA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

31707 31721 31701

Albany vs Other Cities

Albany, GA vs Putney, GA Albany, GA vs Leesburg, GA Albany, GA vs Baconton, GA Albany, GA vs Sasser, GA Albany, GA vs Sylvester, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Albany, GA affordable or expensive?

Albany's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Albany roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $111,200 and median rent is $889/month.

What is the crime rate in Albany, GA?

Albany's violent crime rate is 823.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1608.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Albany?

Public schools in Albany are operated by Dougherty County. The district has 13 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 22.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Albany, GA a good place to live?

Albany, GA has a population of 68,926, a median household income of $43,724, and an unemployment rate of 10.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Albany?

Albany averages 62.0°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.6 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Albany?

Albany, GA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 31707, 31721, 31701.

What is the population of Albany?

The population of Albany, Georgia is 68,926 with a median age of 34.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Albany?

Key numbers for living in Albany: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $111,200, median household income $43,724, crime index 161 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Albany side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.