Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Peoria
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($213,400 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $508/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $32,023/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 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $32,023 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$170k less
$213,400 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$32,023
$86,759 vs $54,736/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
69% lower
254.7 vs 816.9 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
20.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Albany is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories. Albany wins 7 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $383,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Peoria, AZ are about 2,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.