Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Meridian
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($213,400 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $418/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,548)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $38,560/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 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $38,560 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$212k less
$213,400 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$38,560
$93,296 vs $54,736/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
82% lower
146.8 vs 816.9 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
2.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories. Albany wins 6 and Meridian wins 17. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $425,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Meridian, ID are about 2,125 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.