Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Baltimore, MD
🏆 Baltimore leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Baltimore
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
49% less violent crime than Baltimore
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,235)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
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 6.9%)
Median income trails Baltimore by $3,613/yr
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 33°F
Households earn $3,613 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Violent Crime
49% lower
816.9 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Baltimore
Median Income
$3,613
$58,349 vs $54,736/yr
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$11k less
$202,900 vs $213,400
Baltimore
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.0% unemployment
Baltimore
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Baltimore, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $202,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $58,349 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 13.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 423⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 43.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 19.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 584,548 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Baltimore's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Albany is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Baltimore wins 12. 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 Baltimore or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $202,900 median home), income ($54,736 vs $58,349), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Baltimore, MD are about 275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.