Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Anchorage, AK
🏆 Albany leads 13 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Anchorage
Alaska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($213,400 vs $363,800)
20% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $275/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,405)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 21°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $40,995/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.2%)
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $40,995 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Violent Crime
20% lower
816.9 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Albany
Median Home Value
$150k less
$213,400 vs $363,800
Albany
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 67.4°F
Anchorage
Median Income
$40,995
$95,731 vs $54,736/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Anchorage, AK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $363,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,405⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $95,731 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Anchorage School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 20.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 67.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" ✓ Less | 59.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 290,674 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Anchorage's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 13 and Anchorage wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Anchorage or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $363,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $95,731), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Anchorage, AK are about 3,244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.