AreaScoop
Albany, NY

Photo: Wikipedia

Albany, NY

Find The Best Places To Live
in Albany

PRO TIP! You can paste a Zillow or Redfin link.

Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 67
Population100,081
Foreign Born7.7%
Population Density4,676people per mi²
Median Age31.9 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

92/100

8% below national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Albany, New York

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $19k$35k
Comfortable $43k$64k
Luxury $107k+$167k+
Elite (Top 5%) $131k+$203k+
Affordability Ratio

93%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean84%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
5
Negative
19

Groceries

6 within 10 miles

0.4mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.4mi

Hospital

12 within 20 miles

0.8mi

Airport

EWR — Newark Liberty International

137.7mi

Post Office

USPS — Albany, NY

0.7mi

Critical Amenities

Golf11Nearest 4.3 mi
Camping20Nearest 9.8 mi
Marina3Nearest 3.1 mi
Winery0Nearest 10.4 mi
Ice Rink3Nearest 1.4 mi
Gun Range0Nearest 10.1 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D+
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$59k+8.7%
21% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$490k
25% below US avg
College Educated
44.8%
28% above US avg
WFH
11.9%
17% below US avg
Homeownership
37.9%
42% below US avg
Median Home
$223k
21% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
D-
High Risk

Significantly higher crime rates than 77% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
32.1
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−17.0%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−13.8%
Homicide
0.10 / 1k Residents390% above state avg
Robbery
2.20 / 1k Residents160% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
5.00 / 1k Residents124% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−20.1%
Burglary
2.96 / 1k Residents197% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
18.94 / 1k Residents71% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
2.06 / 1k Residents85% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+8Leans Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Albany, New York
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
C+
Moderate

Moderate friction. Expect trade-offs in some aspect of personal liberty and independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
F
Poor15.9% of income
Property Rights
F
PoorIJ Grade F
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Importer (12% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season194 days243 frost-free
Annual Rainfall47.1"
Elevation243 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D+
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor135 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor4,676/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C-
Weak1 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Tornado, Hurricane, Earthquake, Cold Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 162 mi · coast 103 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$64.3M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityNewark312k people are 135 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital2.4 miAlbany, NY
Nearest Prison22 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T10:08:08.000Z

What your realtor won't tell you!

Find the best place to live

Go beyond the listing to get the inside scoop on any home in the US.

PRO TIP! You can paste a Zillow or Redfin link.