Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Lynn 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
Lynn
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
100,653 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($213,400 vs $442,800)
Rent averages $381/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,511)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lynn by $15,310/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.7%)
Lynn, MA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $15,310 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$229k less
$213,400 vs $442,800
Albany
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Income
$15,310
$70,046 vs $54,736/yr
Lynn
Violent Crime
30% lower
574.6 vs 816.9 per 100k
Lynn
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $70,046 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 36.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 39.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 100,653 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 48.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Albany is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lynn leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Lynn 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $442,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Lynn, MA are about 145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.