Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 16 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
St. Louis
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
40% less violent crime than St. Louis
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
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
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Homes cost $39k less ($174,100 vs $213,400)
Rent averages $192/mo less ($938 vs $1,130)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$1,795
$54,736 vs $52,941/yr
Albany
Violent Crime
40% lower
816.9 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$39k less
$174,100 vs $213,400
St. Louis
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
St. Louis
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 44.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 16 of 23 categories. Albany wins 7 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $174,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and St. Louis, MO are about 904 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.