Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $724k less ($213,400 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1120/mo less ($1,130 vs $2,250)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $80,872/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 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $80,872 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Albany
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$724k less
$213,400 vs $937,700
Albany
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$80,872
$135,608 vs $54,736/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
93% lower
60.6 vs 816.9 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 16 ✓ 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 | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Albany is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories. Albany wins 7 and Kirkland wins 15. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $937,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Kirkland, WA are about 2,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.