Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane 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
Spokane
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($213,400 vs $286,900)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane by $8,580/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.2%)
Spokane, WA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $8,580 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$74k less
$213,400 vs $286,900
Spokane
Median Income
$8,580
$63,316 vs $54,736/yr
Spokane
Violent Crime
17% lower
674.9 vs 816.9 per 100k
Spokane
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Spokane
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Albany is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 15 of 23 categories. Albany wins 8 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $286,900 median home), income ($54,736 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Spokane, WA are about 2,125 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.