Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Albany leads 13 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
10% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (8.0%)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,250)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
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
Median income trails Philadelphia by $2,801/yr
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 33°F
Households earn $2,801 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Violent Crime
10% lower
816.9 vs 908.7 per 100k
Albany
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
8.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Income
$2,801
$57,537 vs $54,736/yr
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 13 and Philadelphia wins 10. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $215,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Philadelphia, PA are about 196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.