Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley 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
San Tan Valley
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Rent averages $599/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,729)
Homes cost $91k less ($213,400 vs $304,000)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $33,730/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%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $33,730 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$91k less
$213,400 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$33,730
$88,466 vs $54,736/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
71% lower
235.7 vs 816.9 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
20.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 101,207 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Albany is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Albany wins 8 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $304,000 median home), income ($54,736 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 2,140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.