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New York city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Albany?

What it costs to live in Albany, and how it compares with other New York cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

34

119th best value in New York

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New York cities.

Overall livability

36

103rd overall in New York

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Albany is home to about 99,402 people. A typical home runs $186,500 and a household earns around $52,600, a price-to-income ratio of 3.5. Among New York's largest cities, it ranks 119th for value and 103rd overall.

Albany at a glance

Median home price

$186,500

57th in NY of 135

Median rent

$1,061/mo

Median household income

$52,600

Home price to income

3.5x

Unemployment

7.4%

113th in NY of 135

School rating

3/10

108th in NY of 135

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NY of 135

Walk score

11/100

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‹ See all top New York cities ranked  ยท  New York state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New York only. Updated 2026.