Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Phoenix
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($213,400 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,322)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°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 Phoenix by $17,356/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.2%)
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $17,356 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$127k less
$213,400 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Median Income
$17,356
$72,092 vs $54,736/yr
Phoenix
Violent Crime
2% lower
799.6 vs 816.9 per 100k
Phoenix
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Albany is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Phoenix wins 14. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $340,200 median home), income ($54,736 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Phoenix, AZ are about 2,154 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.