Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Hampton
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,255)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hampton by $9,694/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.5%)
Hampton, VA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Albany
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.5%)
Households earn $9,694 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 33°F
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Hampton
Median Income
$9,694
$64,430 vs $54,736/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
70% lower
247.6 vs 816.9 per 100k
Hampton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
Hampton
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $219,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Hampton 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $219,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Hampton, VA are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.