Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Households earn $10,580 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (8.0%)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($111,400 vs $213,400)
29% less violent crime than Albany
Rent averages $135/mo less ($995 vs $1,130)
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albany by $10,580/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 102" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$10,580
$54,736 vs $44,156/yr
Albany
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
8.0% vs 8.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Rochester
Violent Crime
29% lower
582.3 vs 816.9 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$102k less
$111,400 vs $213,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 37.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Albany is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Albany wins 11 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $111,400 median home), income ($54,736 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Rochester, NY are about 196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.