Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 17 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Roseville
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($213,400 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $810/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,940)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $57,529/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 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,529 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Albany
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$383k less
$213,400 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$57,529
$112,265 vs $54,736/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
73% lower
219.2 vs 816.9 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 58 ✓ 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 | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Albany is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 17 of 23 categories. Albany wins 6 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $596,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Roseville, CA are about 2,470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.