Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Tacoma
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $202k less ($213,400 vs $415,300)
23% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,489)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $24,349/yr
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%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $24,349 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Violent Crime
23% lower
816.9 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Albany
Median Home Value
$202k less
$213,400 vs $415,300
Albany
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$24,349
$79,085 vs $54,736/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Albany is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $415,300 median home), income ($54,736 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Tacoma, WA are about 2,361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.