Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence 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
Providence
Rhode Island
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($213,400 vs $293,000)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,214)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
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
Median income trails Providence by $6,629/yr
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 7.2%)
Providence, RI
Pros
66% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.2%)
Households earn $6,629 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$80k less
$213,400 vs $293,000
Providence
Median Income
$6,629
$61,365 vs $54,736/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
66% lower
276.7 vs 816.9 per 100k
Providence
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 32.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Albany is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $293,000 median home), income ($54,736 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Providence, RI are about 135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.