Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 13 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Fort Worth
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($213,400 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $183/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,313)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Worth by $17,990/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.3%)
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
44% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $17,990 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$37k less
$213,400 vs $250,300
Fort Worth
Median Income
$17,990
$72,726 vs $54,736/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
44% lower
458.4 vs 816.9 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.0% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $250,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 2.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Albany is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 10 and Fort Worth wins 13. 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 Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $250,300 median home), income ($54,736 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Fort Worth, TX are about 1,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.