Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 16 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 107°F
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
Median income trails Yuma by $4,576/yr
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Yuma, AZ
Pros
48% less violent crime than Albany
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 33°F
Homes cost $27k less ($186,500 vs $213,400)
Rent averages $102/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,130)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Households earn $4,576 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Yuma
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Income
$4,576
$59,312 vs $54,736/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
48% lower
423.6 vs 816.9 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$27k less
$186,500 vs $213,400
Yuma
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 16 of 22 categories. Albany wins 6 and Yuma wins 16. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $186,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Yuma, AZ are about 2,312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.