Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New York 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
New York
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $519k less ($213,400 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $584/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Median income trails New York by $21,871/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
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $21,871 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Albany
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$519k less
$213,400 vs $732,100
New York
Median Income
$21,871
$76,607 vs $54,736/yr
New York
Violent Crime
18% lower
671.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and New York 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $732,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and New York, NY are about 139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.