Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Albany leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Springfield
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
8% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,059 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (8.0%)
Cons
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
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Springfield, MA
Pros
Rent averages $83/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,130)
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albany by $7,059/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Income
$7,059
$54,736 vs $47,677/yr
Albany
Violent Crime
8% lower
816.9 vs 891.4 per 100k
Albany
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
8.0% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Median Home Value
$15k less
$198,500 vs $213,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 34.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 51.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Albany is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 12 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $198,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Springfield, MA are about 75 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.