Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Plano
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($213,400 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $569/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,699)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $50,943/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 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $50,943 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$199k less
$213,400 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$50,943
$105,679 vs $54,736/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
81% lower
151.6 vs 816.9 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Albany is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 22 categories. Albany wins 5 and Plano wins 17. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $412,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Plano, TX are about 1,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.