Albany or Rochester: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Rochester wins on more indicators: 8 of 11 against 2.
- Money: Rochester 1:3
- Climate and risks: Rochester 1:5
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Albany
Indicator
Rochester
Money
Better: Rochester (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$76,559
202417% higher
✗$65,468
202414% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,693
2026-09-3011% higher
✓$1,532
2026-09-3010% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$373,057
2026-09-3033% higher
✓$281,279
2026-09-3025% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗99.6 100 = US average
20243% higher
✓97.0 100 = US average
20243% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Rochester (1 : 5)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓37 AQI
20245% lower
✗39 AQI
20245% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗1 days per year
2024
✓0 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗36 days per year
2016-202522% higher
✓30 days per year
2016-202518% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗23 days per year
2016-202529% higher
✓18 days per year
2016-202522% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗1.4 days per year
2016-2025180% higher
✓0.5 days per year
2016-202564% lower
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
32 days per year
2016-2025
37 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3,268 °C·days per year
2016-2025
3,268 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
483 °C·days per year
2016-2025
442 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
108 days per year
2016-2025
125 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14 days per year
2016-2025
26 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,057 mm per year
2016-2025
885 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
68 %
2021-2025
71 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗17 days per year
2021-202515% higher
✓15 days per year
2021-202513% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
156 km
2006-2025
312 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
913,485 people
2024
1,057,218 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Albany, Rochester.