Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Albany leads 13 of 21 categories
Albany
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($213,400 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,312)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Worcester by $8,275/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.6%)
Worcester, MA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Albany
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $8,275 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Albany
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$92k less
$213,400 vs $305,600
Albany
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$8,275
$63,011 vs $54,736/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
98% lower
16.5 vs 816.9 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Albany is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Albany leads 13 of 21 categories. Albany wins 13 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Worcester, MA are about 105 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.