Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Albany leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Victorville
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($213,400 vs $300,600)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
20% less violent crime than Victorville
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,461)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (8.0%)
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Victorville by $11,010/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Victorville, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,010 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Albany
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 8.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Violent Crime
20% lower
816.9 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Albany
Median Home Value
$87k less
$213,400 vs $300,600
Albany
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
8.0% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Median Income
$11,010
$65,746 vs $54,736/yr
Victorville
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $300,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $65,746 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 134,417 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Albany is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 14 and Victorville wins 9. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $300,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Victorville, CA are about 2,390 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.