Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Albany leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Santa Maria
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($213,400 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $638/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $26,501/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%)
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,501 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$225k less
$213,400 vs $438,100
Albany
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$26,501
$81,237 vs $54,736/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
19% lower
660.6 vs 816.9 per 100k
Santa Maria
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 12 and Santa Maria wins 11. 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $438,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.