Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels 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 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($213,400 vs $290,800)
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,426)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $31,091/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 3.8%)
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $31,091 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$77k less
$213,400 vs $290,800
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$31,091
$85,827 vs $54,736/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
81% lower
156.4 vs 816.9 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 17 of 23 categories. Albany wins 6 and New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $290,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and New Braunfels, TX are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.