Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 17 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Carlsbad
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $857k less ($213,400 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1347/mo less ($1,130 vs $2,477)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $79,403/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 6.0%)
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $79,403 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Albany
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Albany
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$857k less
$213,400 vs $1,070,500
Albany
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 74.2°F
Carlsbad
Median Income
$79,403
$134,139 vs $54,736/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
76% lower
199.1 vs 816.9 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $134,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 95.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 114,745 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 17.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 17 of 23 categories. Albany wins 6 and Carlsbad wins 17. 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 Carlsbad or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Carlsbad, CA are about 2,432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.