Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Everett, WA
🏆 Everett 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
Everett
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($213,400 vs $471,200)
Rent averages $481/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,611)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
Commutes run 8 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 Everett by $23,070/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 5.8%)
Everett, WA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $23,070 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Higher rents — median is $1,611/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Albany
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$258k less
$213,400 vs $471,200
Albany
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 74.8°F
Everett
Median Income
$23,070
$77,806 vs $54,736/yr
Everett
Violent Crime
68% lower
265.1 vs 816.9 per 100k
Everett
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Everett, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $471,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,611⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $77,806 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 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 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 26.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Everett School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 74.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 110,847 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 48.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Everett's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Albany is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Everett leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Everett 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 Everett or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $471,200 median home), income ($54,736 vs $77,806), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Everett, WA are about 2,340 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.