Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Boca Raton, FL
🏆 Boca Raton leads 16 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692 ✓ Larger
Boca Raton
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($213,400 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1040/mo less ($1,130 vs $2,170)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $40,834/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 5.9%)
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $40,834 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Albany
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Albany
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$384k less
$213,400 vs $597,100
Boca Raton
Median Income
$40,834
$95,570 vs $54,736/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
79% lower
171.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.0% unemployment
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Boca Raton, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $597,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $2,170⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $95,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 18.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 96.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 65.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 97,980 |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 47.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 17.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Boca Raton's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Albany is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 16 of 23 categories. Albany wins 7 and Boca Raton wins 16. 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 Boca Raton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $597,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $95,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Boca Raton, FL are about 1,181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.