Albany, CA vs Buffalo, NY
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Albany
68.2
#1329 nationally
Buffalo
74.2
#613 nationally
Albany leads in median household income ($124,469 vs $42,891). Buffalo leads in cost of living index (88 vs 207). Buffalo leads in average commute (22.4 min vs 31.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Albany, CA | Buffalo, NY |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.2 (#1329) | 74.2 (#613) |
| Population | 19,097 | 276,807 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,249,885 | $249,040 |
| Median Household Income | $124,469 | $42,891 |
| Average Commute | 31.7 min | 22.4 min |
| Walk Score | 84 | 66 |
| Crime Level | 3.8 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 4.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 207 | 88 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+9.7 |
D+
68.2 Score
Albany, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,249,885
Population
19,097
Crime
Low
Walk Score
84
Pacific
View Albany, CA →
C
74.2 Score
Buffalo, NY
Queen City rising
Median Home
$249,040
Population
276,807
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Northeast
View Buffalo, NY →