Albany is a small town of 691 in Illinois, with a median household income of $64,000
and a 6.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Albany stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include 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: 92.0
Albany's overall cost of living index is 92.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Albany costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Albany, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$146,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$676
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
89.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Albany's violent crime rate is 183.1 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
183.1 /100k
Property Crime
882.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Albany, IL
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Albany sees average highs of 29.4°F in January
and 83.9°F in July,
with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.9 inches of snow per year.
Albany's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Albany roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $146,800 and median rent is $676/month.
Albany's violent crime rate is 183.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 882.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Albany, IL has a population of 691, a median household income of $64,000, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%.
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.
Albany averages 29.4°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches
with about 31.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Albany, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61230.
The population of Albany, Illinois is 691 with a median age of 41.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Albany: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $146,800, median household income $64,000, crime index 46 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.
