Albany, NY vs Hercules, CA
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
70.2
#1122 nationally
Hercules
63.3
#1776 nationally
Hercules leads in crime level (4.6 vs 22.4). Hercules leads in median household income ($125,880 vs $54,736). Albany leads in walk score (65 vs 29).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Albany, NY | Hercules, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.2 (#1122) | 63.3 (#1776) |
| Population | 101,228 | 26,582 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $335,126 | $743,984 |
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $125,880 |
| Average Commute | 19.3 min | 40.4 min |
| Walk Score | 65 | 29 |
| Crime Level | 22.4 | 4.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 171 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.8 | D+38.0 |
C-
70.2 Score
Albany, NY
Mid-size New York city with community character
Median Home
$335,126
Population
101,228
Crime
High
Walk Score
65
Northeast
View Albany, NY →
D
63.3 Score
Hercules, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$743,984
Population
26,582
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Hercules, CA →