Is Albany cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Albany is $1,702 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 19% cheaper. Median household income is $54,736 in Albany compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Albany or Denver?

Albany is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 98 versus 137 in Denver — 28% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Albany or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Albany and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Albany, NY vs Denver, CO

Albany, NY versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,702 a month in Albany and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $54,736 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Albany takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is median income, where Denver leads by 57% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Albany can feel further apart than Albany and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Albany and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Albany report Full Denver report

Albany, NY

Rent: $1,702/mo
Median income: $54,736
Crime index: 98
Schools: A-
Weather: 67°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

19% cheaper

Albany rent is 19% cheaper than Denver

Albany

Winner

$1,702/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,702 a month in Albany versus $2,089 in Denver, so Albany is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,644 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Albany still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

57% higher

Denver's median income is 57% higher than Albany

Albany

$54,736

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $54,736 in Albany, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Denver — about $31,117 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Albany can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

28% lower crime

Albany's crime index is 28% lower than Denver

Albany

Winner

98 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Albany's crime index is 98 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Albany. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Albany is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Albany and Denver are about even on school scores.

Albany

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Albany, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

33% more comfortable

Albany weather is 33% more comfortable than Denver

Albany

Winner

67°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Albany scores 33% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 67°F in Albany and 82°F in Denver. Albany reads as mild, livable temperatures; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Albany is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Albany

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Albany is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,702 a month. Choose Albany if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Albany if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 33%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Albany is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Albany is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Denver (98 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Albany report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 57% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Albany vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Denver is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Albany pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Albany offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Albany vs Denver FAQ

Is Albany cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Albany is $1,702 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 19% cheaper. Median household income is $54,736 in Albany compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Albany or Denver?: Albany is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 98 versus 137 in Denver — 28% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Albany or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Albany and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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