Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Albany leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Stockton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($213,400 vs $382,000)
29% less violent crime than Stockton
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,417)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stockton by $16,876/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,876 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Violent Crime
29% lower
816.9 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Albany
Median Home Value
$169k less
$213,400 vs $382,000
Stockton
Median Income
$16,876
$71,612 vs $54,736/yr
Stockton
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Albany is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 12 and Stockton 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $382,000 median home), income ($54,736 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Stockton, CA are about 2,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.