Is Albany cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Albany is $1,702 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $54,736 in Albany compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Albany or Dallas?

Albany is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 98 versus 109 in Dallas — 10% 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 Dallas?

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

New search

City comparison

Albany, NY vs Dallas, TX

Albany, NY versus Dallas, TX 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 $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $54,736 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Albany takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Albany leads by 107% — 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 Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Albany and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Albany report Full Dallas report

Albany, NY

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

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

12% cheaper

Albany rent is 12% cheaper than Dallas

Albany

Winner

$1,702/mo

Dallas

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,702 a month in Albany versus $1,931 in Dallas, so Albany is 12% 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 $2,748 — 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 Dallas.

Median income

17% higher

Dallas's median income is 17% higher than Albany

Albany

$54,736

Dallas

Winner

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $63,985 in Dallas versus $54,736 in Albany, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Dallas — about $9,249 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, Dallas 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

10% lower crime

Albany's crime index is 10% lower than Dallas

Albany

Winner

98 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Albany's crime index is 98 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Albany. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Albany, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Dallas. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Albany and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Albany

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Albany, A- in Dallas). 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

107% more comfortable

Albany weather is 107% more comfortable than Dallas

Albany

Winner

67°F typical

Dallas

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Albany scores 107% 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 92°F in Dallas. Albany reads as mild, livable temperatures; Dallas 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. Dallas 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 12% 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 Dallas on this page's weather index by 107%. Dallas 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 10% lower than Dallas (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 Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($63,985). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Albany vs Dallas, called

If weather is your priority, Albany is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Albany vs Dallas FAQ

Is Albany cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Albany is $1,702 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $54,736 in Albany compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Albany or Dallas?: Albany is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 98 versus 109 in Dallas — 10% 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 Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Albany and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Albany?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps