Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 13 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Riverside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($213,400 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $581/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $28,712/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 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,712 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$272k less
$213,400 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$28,712
$83,448 vs $54,736/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
28% lower
589.7 vs 816.9 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.0% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Albany is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverside leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 10 and Riverside wins 13. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $485,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Riverside, CA are about 2,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.