Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 13 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Yonkers
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($213,400 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $529/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,659)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $23,472/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 6.6%)
Yonkers, NY
Pros
62% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $23,472 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Albany
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$243k less
$213,400 vs $456,500
Yonkers
Median Income
$23,472
$78,208 vs $54,736/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
62% lower
311.8 vs 816.9 per 100k
Yonkers
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 32.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 10 and Yonkers wins 13. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $456,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Yonkers, NY are about 119 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.