Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Los Angeles
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $609k less ($213,400 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $661/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,791)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $21,508/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
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,508 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Albany
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$609k less
$213,400 vs $822,600
Albany
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$21,508
$76,244 vs $54,736/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
11% lower
728.5 vs 816.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Los Angeles wins 12. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $822,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Los Angeles, CA are about 2,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.