Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Albany leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Newark
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($213,400 vs $312,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (8.0%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,276 more per year on average
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
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
Newark, NJ
Pros
29% less violent crime than Albany
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albany by $8,276/yr
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 Income
$8,276
$54,736 vs $46,460/yr
Albany
Median Home Value
$99k less
$213,400 vs $312,300
Albany
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
8.0% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Violent Crime
29% lower
581.2 vs 816.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 14 and Newark wins 9. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $312,300 median home), income ($54,736 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Newark, NJ are about 136 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.