Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 16 of 22 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
Norman
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norman by $8,113/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.8%)
Norman, OK
Pros
68% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,113 more per year on average
Rent averages $126/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,130)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 33°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$12k less
$213,400 vs $224,900
Norman
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Income
$8,113
$62,849 vs $54,736/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
68% lower
260.2 vs 816.9 per 100k
Norman
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 127,701 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 18.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norman leads 16 of 22 categories. Albany wins 6 and Norman wins 16. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $224,900 median home), income ($54,736 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Norman, OK are about 1,360 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.