Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Las Vegas leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Las Vegas
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($213,400 vs $365,300)
Rent averages $226/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,356)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
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 Las Vegas by $11,620/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
47% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $11,620 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$152k less
$213,400 vs $365,300
Las Vegas
Median Income
$11,620
$66,356 vs $54,736/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
47% lower
429.8 vs 816.9 per 100k
Las Vegas
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $365,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,356⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $66,356 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Albany is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $365,300 median home), income ($54,736 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Las Vegas, NV are about 2,233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.