Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Salt Lake City
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($213,400 vs $458,600)
5% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,254)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $17,621/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $17,621 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Violent Crime
5% lower
816.9 vs 864.2 per 100k
Albany
Median Home Value
$245k less
$213,400 vs $458,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$17,621
$72,357 vs $54,736/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 49.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Albany is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Salt Lake City wins 14. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $458,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,954 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.