Albany, NY vs Irvine, 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
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $54,736). Albany leads in cost of living index (109 vs 178). Albany leads in walk score (65 vs 44).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Albany, NY | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.2 (#1122) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 101,228 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $335,126 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 19.3 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 65 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 22.4 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 178 |
| 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+
67.2 Score
Irvine, CA
Master-planned perfection in Southern California
Median Home
$1,517,431
Population
307,670
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Pacific
View Irvine, CA →