Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 12 of 20 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
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($213,400 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $497/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,627)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $20,640/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%)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $20,640 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/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
$204k less
$213,400 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$20,640
$75,376 vs $54,736/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Fort Lauderdale, 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 | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 16.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Albany is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 12 of 20 categories. Albany wins 8 and Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $417,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 1,197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.