Albany, NY vs Costa Mesa, 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
Costa Mesa
60.6
#1929 nationally
Costa Mesa leads in median household income ($104,981 vs $54,736). Albany leads in cost of living index (109 vs 197). Albany leads in average commute (19.3 min vs 21.9 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Albany, NY | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.2 (#1122) | 60.6 (#1929) |
| Population | 101,228 | 108,354 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $335,126 | $1,424,322 |
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $104,981 |
| Average Commute | 19.3 min | 21.9 min |
| Walk Score | 65 | 65 |
| Crime Level | 22.4 | 20.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 197 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.8 | D+2.6 |
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-
60.6 Score
Costa Mesa, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,424,322
Population
108,354
Crime
High
Walk Score
65
Pacific
View Costa Mesa, CA →
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