Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Memphis
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
67% less violent crime than Memphis
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (8.0%)
Households earn $6,646 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($139,600 vs $213,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Rent averages $80/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,130)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albany by $6,646/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$6,646
$54,736 vs $48,090/yr
Albany
Violent Crime
67% lower
816.9 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Albany
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
8.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$74k less
$139,600 vs $213,400
Memphis
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Albany wins 11 and Memphis wins 11. 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $139,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Memphis, TN are about 1,012 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.