Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Pasadena
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (8.0%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $9,962/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Pasadena, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Albany
Homes cost $42k less ($171,600 vs $213,400)
Households earn $9,962 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 8.0%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
8.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$9,962
$64,698 vs $54,736/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
31% lower
566.1 vs 816.9 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$42k less
$171,600 vs $213,400
Pasadena
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Albany is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Pasadena wins 12. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $171,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Pasadena, TX are about 1,485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.