Albany vs Kingston
Compare Albany, NY and Kingston, NY on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,181/mo in Albany and $1,269/mo in Kingston, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,374/mo and $1,702/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (239 vs 243 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 82°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Albany; if walkable daily life matters more, Albany screens stronger on the walkability proxy (20 vs 14). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Albany leads 74 to 70 on the work screen.
Both cities are close on the daily life screen.
Kingston leads 58 to 52 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Albany is roughly $72,857 in Kingston using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Albany | Kingston | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,181/mo | $1,269/mo | Albany |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,374/mo | $1,702/mo | Albany |
| Median home value | $254,000 | $288,000 | Albany |
| State income tax | 10.9% | 10.9% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 29.7 min | Albany |
| Safety score | 60/100 | 62/100 | Kingston |
| School score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 20/100 | 14/100 | Albany |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 202.5 | 260.2 | Kingston |
| Mountain distance | 15 mi | 20 mi | Albany |
| Coast distance | 97 mi | 46 mi | Kingston |
What stands out
Albany stronger signals
- Trail access within 29 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 14 miles
- Named beach within 45 miles
Albany tradeoffs
- High top marginal state income tax
- Cold winters
Kingston stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 20 miles
- Named beach within 27 miles
Kingston tradeoffs
- High top marginal state income tax
Common questions
Is Albany cheaper than Kingston?
On public benchmarks Albany is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,181/mo in Albany vs $1,269/mo in Kingston; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,374/mo vs $1,702/mo; state income tax is 10.9% vs 10.9%.
Is Albany or Kingston safer?
Kingston screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 60/100 for Albany and 62/100 for Kingston (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Albany or Kingston?
School screens show 6/10 for Albany vs 6/10 for Kingston, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Albany and Kingston?
Albany: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 12°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Kingston: 82°F / 16°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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