Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $1441k less ($213,400 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1097/mo less ($1,130 vs $2,227)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $52,061/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 6.2%)
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,061 more per year on average
5% less violent crime than Albany
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$1441k less
$213,400 vs $1,654,800
Albany
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$52,061
$106,797 vs $54,736/yr
Santa Monica
Violent Crime
5% lower
778.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Santa Monica
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Santa Monica wins 12. 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 Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,465 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.