Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Sacramento
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($213,400 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $462/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $24,218/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 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,218 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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
$237k less
$213,400 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$24,218
$78,954 vs $54,736/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
8% lower
754.9 vs 816.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.0% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Sacramento, 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 | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Albany is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories. Albany wins 8 and Sacramento wins 15. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Sacramento, CA are about 2,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.