Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Albany leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (8.0%)
Households earn $11,884 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($96,900 vs $213,400)
59% less violent crime than Albany
Rent averages $188/mo less ($942 vs $1,130)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 33°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Median income trails Albany by $11,884/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 8.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$11,884
$54,736 vs $42,852/yr
Albany
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
8.0% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
59% lower
337.2 vs 816.9 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$117k less
$96,900 vs $213,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 12 and Reading wins 11. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $96,900 median home), income ($54,736 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Reading, PA are about 195 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.