Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Gresham 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
Gresham
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($213,400 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,452)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
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 Gresham by $14,701/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.8%)
Gresham, OR
Pros
50% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $14,701 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$198k less
$213,400 vs $411,700
Gresham
Median Income
$14,701
$69,437 vs $54,736/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
50% lower
410.2 vs 816.9 per 100k
Gresham
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $69,437 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 113,525 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Albany is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 10 and Gresham 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $411,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Gresham, OR are about 2,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.