The list of U.S. cities that can claim a median home sale price of $230,000 is dwindling quickly. Considering this low price point, and the similar state of the rental market (a 2-bedroom goes for about $1,635), Albany could be the perfect place to put your paycheck to work for you. Groceries, healthcare, and transportation are all also relatively inexpensive compared to other cities in the region. The cost of living combined with the city’s central location, cultural attractions, and access to the great outdoors checks a lot of boxes for young professionals and retirees alike. 

Before you start packing your bags, though, take a look at the tax rate here. Homeowners can expect to pay upstate New York’s signature high property taxes. While these taxes go to support essential government services like public education and infrastructure, it means you need to look beyond the sticker price before you make the move.


You’ll Get Your Money's Worth

The Best Thing About Albany?

It feels boring and predictable, but we can’t give you an honest snapshot of Albany without mentioning the snow. Albany experiences an average snowfall of 60 inches per year. Most winter months the temps average around freezing and you can expect to see lows in the teens, especially in January. The good news is this is nothing new for the city or its residents. The city does a decent job of plowing the streets and sidewalks and salting the roads. Locals know how to drive in snow and usually events and activities will go on “snow or shine.”

Unfortunately, when summer months come it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. In July and August, an 80-degree day can become quite unpleasant due to high humidity levels. For homeowners, there is an increased risk of humidity-induced mold and mildew growth in their houses during these months.


Grab Your Snow Shovel

The Worst Thing About Albany?

The state’s capital is where history, small-town charm, and modern amenities meet. Here historic buildings inspire a sense of reverence while the vibrant college-age population keeps the city feeling young. There’s plenty to do within and beyond the city limits. Tourists will travel to see the Empire State Plaza’s reflecting pools, the uniquely shaped performing arts venue known as [**The Egg**](https://www.theegg.org/), and the culturally significant New York State Capitol and New York State Museum. 

Nature winds its way through the city via the Hudson River, offering residents kayaking, fishing, and boating in warmer months. Visiting [**Washington Park**](https://www.albany.org/listing/washington-park/2361/) and [Albany Pine Bush Preserve](**https://www.albanypinebush.org/**) is a popular pastime for residents who love to hike, birdwatch and picnic. Albany is also a gateway to some of the country’s most sought-after nature areas, including the Adirondack Mountains and the Catskills. Just two hours north, the Adirondacks are a magnet for snowsports enthusiasts in the winter and camping and boating fans in the summer.

The plethora of colleges in the area inspires an active entertainment and nightlife scene. However, unless you’re a big lacrosse fan, you’ll need to drive a few hours to NYC or Boston to see a professional sports team play. Albany’s sports culture was once centered around the Albany Devils, the city’s pro hockey team, but they’re now the [**Utica Comets**](https://www.uticacomets.com/). 

You’ll need a car to get around Albany. There is a bus system, but the routes and timings leave something to be desired. Most often it won’t be a long drive, just about 5-10 minutes to wherever you’re going, it may just be hard to find parking once you get there. 


More Than a College Town

Lifestyle of Albany

Albany County is home to several school districts. Together they average out for an overall rating of [**“C+” on Niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/albany-city-school-district-ny/). The [**Albany City School District**](https://www.ausdk12.org/) includes more than 15 schools, with standouts like [**Montessori Magnet School**](https://www.albanyschools.org/schools/montessori/index) (PK-5), [**William S. Hackett Middle School**](https://www.albanyschools.org/schools/hackett/index) (6-8) and [**Albany High School**](https://www.albanyschools.org/schools/albanyhigh/index) (9-12) all receiving “B” ratings or higher from Niche.com. 

In other parts of the county, the North Colonie, Niskayuna Central, East Greenbush, Bethlehem Central and Voorheesville Central districts all have some of the top schools in the area. If you have flexibility on which part of Albany you call home, check out [**Niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-public-schools/t/albany-albany-ny/) and [**U.S. News Rankings**](https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/new-york/rankings/albany-ny-10580) for the top-performing schools around town. 

For private options, parents have several highly rated schools within the city and a short drive away in neighboring towns. Start your search with [**Emma Willard School**](https://www.emmawillard.org/) (9-12) in Troy, [**The Albany Academies**](https://www.albanyacademies.org/) (PK-12) in town, and [**The Doane Stuart School**](https://www.doanestuart.org/) (PK-12) in Rensselaer – they all have “A+” ratings on Niche.com. 

If you’re interested in earning your degree while living here, Albany is home to a long list of higher education institutions as well. You can find everything from general options like Maria College and Siena College to more specialized programs like Albany Law School and Albany Medical College. Whether you are attending school or not, you will experience firsthand how the sheer volume of students in Albany shapes the demographics and culture of the area, for better or for worse.


Hit or Miss

Schools in Albany

Like all cities in central New York, you have the haters and the die-hard loyalists (or the common but strange combo of people who love to hate their city and vow to never leave). Albany has its fair share of all the above. Poised with potential for the right individual or family, Albany might just be your perfect combination of affordable housing, historic charm, and recreational opportunities – especially if you don’t mind a little snow.


If the Shoe Fits

Why You Should Move Here Now

You can find the best of downtown living in the historic Center Square. Here residents enjoy the charm of historic brownstone buildings and the best of the city’s amenities. Walk along tree-lined streets through a mix of residential and commercial spaces on your way to nearby restaurants, bars, and shops. Need some fresh air? Steps from your front door you’ll find the city’s gem, Washington Park. 

Niche.com named this neighborhood as the best place for young professionals in Albany. That doesn’t mean it isn’t family-friendly, though. There are several nearby schools including [**William S. Hackett Middle School**](https://www.albanyschools.org/schools/hackett/index), [**Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology**](https://www.albanyschools.org/schools/toast/index), [**The Free School**](https://thealbanyfreeschool.org/) (primary school), [**Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls**](https://www.albanyleadership.org/), and many more. 

As one of the nicer parts of town, the median home value is a bit higher at $367,329 and renters can expect to pay more than $1800 for a 2-bedroom apartment.


Young Professionals, DINKs

Center Square

Located southwest of downtown, Buckingham Pond is as fancy as it sounds. Centered around a picturesque lake, this neighborhood features spacious homes, well-maintained streets, and Buckingham Park – a popular spot for outdoor activities and gatherings. Young professionals, families, and retirees all call this neighborhood home. 

Niche.com named it the best place in Albany to buy a house and most residents do own their homes. The median home value here is $271,062 and the median rent is just over $1,200. Nearby schools include [**Eagle Point Elementary School**](https://www.browardschools.com/eaglepoint), [**All Saints Catholic Academy**](http://www.ascaalbany.org/), [**Mater Christi School**](https://www.mcsalbany.org/), and [**Langan School**](https://cfdsny.org/our-services/childrens-services/kevin-g-langan-school) that provides educational services for students with disabilities. As for groceries, you’ll find them a short drive away, one neighborhood over in Pine Hills. Your options include the highly rated Market 32, Maple Leaf Market, and Pine Hills Market. 


Young Professionals, Families, Retirees

Buckingham Pond

You’ll find a diverse, tightly-knit community just northwest of downtown in the West Hills neighborhood. It offers residents a blend of urban and suburban living and features a mix of residential properties, cultural institutes, community buildings, and businesses. 

For things to do, explore the beautiful [**Tivoli Lake Preserve**](https://maps.app.goo.gl/acUjeRk4kiRKa2ru5) or pick from the neighborhood’s well-regarded bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. This neighborhood does offer slightly more affordable living, with the median home price just below $100,000 and the median rental cost hovering around $1,175. Residents tend to be liberal and rent their homes. Nearby schools include [**Schuyler Achievement Academy**](https://schuylerachievementacademy.weebly.com/) (elementary), [**KIPP Tech Valley Primary School**](https://www.kippcapital.org/schools/tech-valley-primary/), and [**Blessed Sacrament School**](https://blessedsacramentschool.net/) (elementary). 


West End/West Hills

Albany

**What's it like to live in Albany?**

2mo ago
It’s a nice small city! I like to call Albany great to live in and very boring to visit. We’re so close to nature: the Adirondacks, Berkshires, and Catskills are all within an hour. We’ve got great culture- lots of museums nearby and fun day trips. We’ve got decent food- especially Italian and Asian foods. We’ve got lots of options for living from walkable urban to little lakes and mountain homes all commutable to the city. We have a large white collar young professional workforce because the state is the big employer and lots of local colleges. But if you’re looking for Portland or Asheville or even Providence… small cities with big hip scenes… we’re not that. I love it here because heading to a library or on a day hike is my dream weekend. I find it very easy to make friends: were people with hobbies! State work (mostly) ends at 5 and then you head out… to play soccer, ice skate, take an art class… whatever. It’s affordable here. NYC still hasn’t found us. Our politics are generally very liberal and even the more MAGA towns are… generally east coast conservative, if that makes sense? It’s been a great place to raise a family. We’re always running into friends because “smallbany.”

But again I caution: we are not like… traditional fun city! You won’t be wowed by our lights. Were liveable small city life.

**How Is Albany to Live?**

2y ago
Albany- It's fine.
Albany is like most midsized cities in the US. That is to say, if you have a well-paying job, a car, and enjoy a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, you will live a nice life.

As someone in that category, I like it. My rent is nothing compared to my friends in big cities. As a homebody I'm perfectly content with our smaller bar and entertainment scene. As a photographer I love how many gorgeous areas are in daytrip range. We have no real natural disasters. I may hate winter, but it's the price I pay for summer and fall.

I'd rather be here than almost anywhere else in the country, tbh. Big cities are exciting, but also expensive and smell like piss (looking at you NYC metro). The country is beautiful, but boring and full of rednecks. Mid sized cities are the perfect compromise baby!

**Is Albany a good place to live?**

Albany is a perfectly fine city, but it’s not a very exciting place.

The thing that makes living around here nice to me is the surrounding areas.

The Adirondacks is one of the most beautiful places to live in America. During the Autumn the leaves change color and it is one of the most beautiful places in the world at that point.

If you drive North you’ll find Saratoga Springs (Upscale, horse racing, fine dining), further north is Lake George, beautiful lake town lots of stuff to do in the summer.

You’re 2.5 hours from both Boston and New York City.

It’s a great area, if you wanted to move here I would suggest living in the surrounding suburbs of Albany. The city itself is fine, but again, not all that exciting.

Albany, New York

Smallbany

Looklyloo Score: 83

Reviews

What's it like to live in Albany?