Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
St. Paul
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($213,400 vs $264,900)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 24°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Paul by $15,183/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
24% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $15,183 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Albany
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$52k less
$213,400 vs $264,900
St. Paul
Median Income
$15,183
$69,919 vs $54,736/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
24% lower
617.7 vs 816.9 per 100k
St. Paul
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 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) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 12 of 22 categories. Albany wins 10 and St. Paul 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $264,900 median home), income ($54,736 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and St. Paul, MN are about 973 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.