Albany, OR vs Watsonville, 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
70.6
#1081 nationally
Watsonville
63.3
#1786 nationally
Watsonville leads in walk score (69 vs 33). Albany leads in crime level (5.4 vs 10.9). Albany leads in cost of living index (111 vs 152).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Albany, OR | Watsonville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.6 (#1081) | 63.3 (#1786) |
| Population | 57,053 | 50,867 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $439,047 | $828,739 |
| Median Household Income | $69,777 | $72,295 |
| Average Commute | 21.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 69 |
| Crime Level | 5.4 | 10.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 152 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+24.4 | D+54.4 |
C-
70.6 Score
Albany, OR
Oregon community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$439,047
Population
57,053
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
33
Pacific
View Albany, OR →
D
63.3 Score
Watsonville, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$828,739
Population
50,867
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
69
Pacific
View Watsonville, CA →