Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Ann Arbor, MI
🏆 Ann Arbor leads 13 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Ann Arbor
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($213,400 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,472)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $23,810/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 3.7%)
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
63% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $23,810 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$203k less
$213,400 vs $416,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$23,810
$78,546 vs $54,736/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
63% lower
302.5 vs 816.9 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Ann Arbor, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $416,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $78,546 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 97.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Ann Arbor Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" ✓ Less | 59.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 122,216 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 27.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 45.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Ann Arbor's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Albany is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ann Arbor leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 10 and Ann Arbor wins 13. 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 Ann Arbor or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $416,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $78,546), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Ann Arbor, MI are about 507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.