Albany, CA vs Charlotte, NC
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
Charlotte
68.1
#1344 nationally
Albany leads in walk score (84 vs 26). Charlotte leads in cost of living index (102 vs 207). Albany leads in median household income ($124,469 vs $71,659).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Albany, CA | Charlotte, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.2 (#1329) | 68.1 (#1344) |
| Population | 19,097 | 897,720 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,249,885 | $397,231 |
| Median Household Income | $124,469 | $71,659 |
| Average Commute | 31.7 min | 27.1 min |
| Walk Score | 84 | 26 |
| Crime Level | 3.8 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 207 | 102 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+32.9 |
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 →
D+
68.1 Score
Charlotte, NC
Banking capital of the South
Median Home
$397,231
Population
897,720
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Charlotte, NC →