Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Ann Arbor, MI
🏆 Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Ann Arbor
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($246,000 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $458/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $17,043/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.7%)
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
74% less violent crime than Albuquerque
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,043 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$171k less
$246,000 vs $416,500
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 84.0°F
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$17,043
$78,546 vs $61,503/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
74% lower
302.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Ann Arbor, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $416,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $78,546 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 97.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Ann Arbor Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 59.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 122,216 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 27.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 45.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Ann Arbor's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 13 and Ann Arbor wins 10. 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 Albuquerque to Ann Arbor or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $416,500 median home), income ($61,503 vs $78,546), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Ann Arbor, MI are about 1,326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.