Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Glendale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($213,400 vs $310,000)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,268)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $11,639/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.7%)
Glendale, AZ
Pros
40% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $11,639 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$97k less
$213,400 vs $310,000
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Glendale
Median Income
$11,639
$66,375 vs $54,736/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
40% lower
488.4 vs 816.9 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $310,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,268 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $66,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories. Albany wins 8 and Glendale wins 14. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $310,000 median home), income ($54,736 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Glendale, AZ are about 2,160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.