Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto 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
Modesto
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($213,400 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $367/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,497)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $18,639/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
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,639 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Albany
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$168k less
$213,400 vs $381,800
Modesto
Median Income
$18,639
$73,375 vs $54,736/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
20% lower
655.7 vs 816.9 per 100k
Modesto
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Albany is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Modesto 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $381,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Modesto, CA are about 2,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.