Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Atlanta, GA
🏆 Atlanta 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 ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Atlanta
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($213,400 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $382/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,512)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $22,919/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 5.8%)
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $22,919 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Violent Crime
3% lower
816.9 vs 840.6 per 100k
Albany
Median Home Value
$182k less
$213,400 vs $395,600
Atlanta
Median Income
$22,919
$77,655 vs $54,736/yr
Atlanta
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Atlanta
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $395,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,512⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $77,655 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 57.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Atlanta Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 494,838 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 17.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Atlanta's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Albany is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Atlanta 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 Atlanta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $395,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $77,655), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Atlanta, GA are about 842 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.