Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 14 of 22 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
San Francisco
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $1135k less ($213,400 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1186/mo less ($1,130 vs $2,316)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $81,953/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 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,953 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$1135k less
$213,400 vs $1,348,700
Albany
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$81,953
$136,689 vs $54,736/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
27% lower
596.5 vs 816.9 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Albany is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 14 of 22 categories. Albany wins 8 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and San Francisco, CA are about 2,584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.