01 · the cities
New York
New York is the city that refuses to take a nap. Five boroughs of bodegas, bagels, late-night dollar slices, and entire neighborhoods that switch languages every six blocks. The subway is a 472-station miracle that runs all night, and Central Park is the green lung that keeps Manhattan sane. You will spend more than you planned and love every minute of it.
full dispatch→Albany
Albany is one of the oldest chartered cities in America (1686), with the New York state capitol building wearing every architectural style from Romanesque to Victorian on different sides. The Hudson River and the surrounding Adirondacks and Berkshires give it a serious nature backbone. Five colleges feed in young energy, and Lark Street is the local main drag for food and bars. Quieter than its neighbors, and full of layers.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,643/mo
$1,686/mo less than New York (103%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$361k
$378k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
5.9%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,203/mo
Albany has $2,093/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
171 days
147 days
24 fewer than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
62 days
days below 20°F per year
Albany drops below 20°F on 43 more days per year than New York.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
72 / 100
6.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
19 routes
196 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
905k metro
New York has 150.3x more events per month than Albany.
the verdict
4
New York
categories won
4
Albany
categories won
New York wins on weather and lifestyle, Albany wins on money. Dead even.
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