Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Daly City, CA
🏆 Daly City 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
Population
99,692
Daly City
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $860k less ($213,400 vs $1,073,100)
Rent averages $1424/mo less ($1,130 vs $2,554)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Daly City by $60,174/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%)
Daly City, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,174 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Albany
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$860k less
$213,400 vs $1,073,100
Albany
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 61.8°F
Daly City
Median Income
$60,174
$114,910 vs $54,736/yr
Daly City
Violent Crime
64% lower
296.3 vs 816.9 per 100k
Daly City
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Daly City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $1,073,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $2,554⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $114,910 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 20.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 103,648 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 19.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Daly City's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Albany is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Daly City leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Daly City 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 Daly City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $1,073,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $114,910), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Daly City, CA are about 2,557 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.