Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Arlington, TX
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $38k less ($213,400 vs $251,300)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,297)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $17,000/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.6%)
Arlington, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $17,000 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$38k less
$213,400 vs $251,300
Arlington
Median Income
$17,000
$71,736 vs $54,736/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
41% lower
482.9 vs 816.9 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Arlington, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $251,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,297 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $71,736 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 32.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | ARLINGTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 393,469 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Arlington's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Albany is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Arlington wins 14. 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 Arlington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $251,300 median home), income ($54,736 vs $71,736), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Arlington, TX are about 1,443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.