Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 16 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Simi Valley
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $491k less ($213,400 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1272/mo less ($1,130 vs $2,402)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $57,408/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 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,408 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Albany
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
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
$491k less
$213,400 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$57,408
$112,144 vs $54,736/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
84% lower
129.1 vs 816.9 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Simi Valley, 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 | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 16 of 23 categories. Albany wins 7 and Simi Valley wins 16. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $704,200 median home), income ($54,736 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Simi Valley, CA are about 2,470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.