Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton 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
Fullerton
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $578k less ($213,400 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $859/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,989)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $44,543/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 6.9%)
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,543 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Albany
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$578k less
$213,400 vs $791,000
Fullerton
Median Income
$44,543
$99,279 vs $54,736/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
44% lower
455.3 vs 816.9 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 17 of 23 categories. Albany wins 6 and Fullerton 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $791,000 median home), income ($54,736 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Fullerton, CA are about 2,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.