What are the schools like in Albany, NY?

Albany is served primarily by ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Albany?

The median household income in Albany, NY is $54,736 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.0%.

What is the weather like in Albany, NY?

Albany has an average high temperature of 32.8°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 56.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Albany, NY affordable or expensive?

Albany's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Albany is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $213,400 and the median rent is $1,130 per month.

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

Albany has a violent crime rate of 816.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2848.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Albany, NY a Good Place to Live?

Albany is a mid-sized city of 99,692 in New York, with a median household income of $54,736 and a 8.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Albany stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, 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: 97.6

Albany's overall cost of living index is 97.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Albany costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Albany, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$213,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,130	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	36.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,736	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Albany's violent crime rate is 816.9 per 100,000 residents — 115% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

816.9 /100k

Property Crime

2848.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Albany is served primarily by ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Albany, NY	National Avg
School District	ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	12	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Albany sees average highs of 32.8°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 43.1 inches of annual precipitation and 56.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Albany, NY
Average High — January	32.8°F
Average High — July	83.9°F
Annual Precipitation	43.1"
Annual Snowfall	56.2"

Demographics

Metric	Albany, NY	National Avg
Population	99,692	—
Median Age	32.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	53.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	27.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.0%	18.9%
Asian	7.1%	6.3%
Under 18	15.1%	22.2%
65 and over	13.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Roessleville, NY 2 mi Loudonville, NY 4 mi Rensselaer, NY 4 mi Menands, NY 4 mi Westmere, NY 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Albany

Albany, NY is covered by 9 ZIP codes:

12208 12203 12209 12206 12202 12210 12207 12222 12226

Albany vs Other Cities

Albany, NY vs Roessleville, NY Albany, NY vs Loudonville, NY Albany, NY vs Rensselaer, NY Albany, NY vs Menands, NY Albany, NY vs Westmere, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Albany, NY affordable or expensive?

Albany's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Albany roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $213,400 and median rent is $1,130/month.

What is the crime rate in Albany, NY?

Albany's violent crime rate is 816.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2848.3 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 ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 43.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Albany, NY a good place to live?

Albany, NY has a population of 99,692, a median household income of $54,736, and an unemployment rate of 8.0%. 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 32.8°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.1 inches with about 56.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Albany?

Albany, NY is covered by 9 ZIP codes: 12208, 12203, 12209, 12206, 12202, 12210, 12207, 12222, 12226.

What is the population of Albany?

The population of Albany, New York is 99,692 with a median age of 32.0. 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 98 (100 = US average), median home $213,400, median household income $54,736, crime index 183 (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.