Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Albany leads 15 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
20% less violent crime than Trenton
Households earn $10,292 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (8.0%)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($111,200 vs $213,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albany by $10,292/yr
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 8.0%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Income
$10,292
$54,736 vs $44,444/yr
Albany
Violent Crime
20% lower
816.9 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Albany
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
8.0% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$102k less
$111,200 vs $213,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 38.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Albany is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 15 of 23 categories. Albany wins 15 and Trenton wins 8. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $111,200 median home), income ($54,736 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Trenton, NJ are about 176 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.