Albany, CA vs Ithaca, 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
Albany leads in median household income ($124,469 vs $45,468). Ithaca leads in cost of living index (117 vs 207). Ithaca leads in average commute (18.4 min vs 31.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Albany, CA | Ithaca, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,097 | 32,724 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,249,885 | $0 |
| Median Household Income | $124,469 | $45,468 |
| Average Commute | 31.7 min | 18.4 min |
| Walk Score | 84 | 72 |
| Crime Level | 3.8 | 5.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 207 | 117 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+50.6 |
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 →
—
Score
Ithaca, NY
Small New York city with local appeal
Population
32,724
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
72
Median Income
$45,468
Northeast
View Ithaca, NY →