Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Boulder, CO
🏆 Boulder leads 14 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Boulder
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $706k less ($213,400 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $723/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,853)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $25,507/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 5.4%)
Boulder, CO
Pros
61% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $25,507 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$706k less
$213,400 vs $919,700
Boulder
Median Income
$25,507
$80,243 vs $54,736/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
61% lower
322.3 vs 816.9 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Boulder
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $919,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $80,243 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 28.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 96.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" ✓ Less | 85.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 106,598 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 47.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% ✓ More | 11.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Boulder's 107.2 (US average = 100).
Albany is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boulder leads 14 of 22 categories. Albany wins 8 and Boulder 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 Boulder or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $919,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $80,243), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Boulder, CO are about 1,632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.