Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 15 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
West Jordan
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($213,400 vs $412,100)
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,489)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $44,266/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 4.2%)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $44,266 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 98.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$199k less
$213,400 vs $412,100
West Jordan
Median Income
$44,266
$99,002 vs $54,736/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
64% lower
294.2 vs 816.9 per 100k
West Jordan
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
West Jordan
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.5 |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 55.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 15 of 23 categories. Albany wins 8 and West Jordan wins 15. 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $412,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and West Jordan, UT are about 1,961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.