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Living in
Albany.
About
Life in Albany
Albany offers an affordable cost of living with a median home value around $124,300 and median rent near $900 monthly, though median household income sits at $47,240 with over 60% of residents earning less than $50,000 annually. The subtropical climate brings hot, humid summers and mild winters, but be prepared for well-above-average rainfall and thunderstorms—the city sees thunder roughly 86 days per year, more than double the national average. The city has solid educational options through the public school system and Albany State University, plus tree-lined streets and access to parks like Chehaw Park & Zoo, though outdoor recreation is modest compared to other regions.
Albany at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.5%
Foreign-Born
2.0%
Broadband Internet
80.5%
of households
Population Growth
-3.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Albany: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Albany, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.5%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.8%
of residents
65 and Older
16.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.4%
of households
Married Couples
22.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 33% below GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Albany
In Albany, rent runs 33% below the GA average, and home values are 59% below the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,694
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
37.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $132,195 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.7 pts above GA average
Unemployment in Albany
Unemployment in Albany is 1.7 percentage points higher than the GA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Albany Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.7 min avg
How Albany residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Albany, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Southwest Georgia Regional Airport (ABY)
Regional airport · few flights38k passengers boarded in 2025
- 143 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 351% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Albany runs 351% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,484.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,760.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Albany Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dougherty County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dougherty County, which includes Albany, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Drought | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 9 | Flash Flood | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $109,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4,000 |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dougherty County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dougherty County, which includes Albany, is typically good — 209 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
209
per year
Moderate Days
155
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Dougherty County, county-wide
Climate92°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Albany has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
106
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
28
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 39°F | 4.19" |
| Feb | 66°F | 42°F | 4.01" |
| Mar | 73°F | 48°F | 4.38" |
| Apr | 80°F | 54°F | 3.67" |
| May | 88°F | 63°F | 2.41" |
| Jun | 91°F | 71°F | 5.06" |
| Jul | 93°F | 73°F | 5.12" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 4.83" |
| Sep | 88°F | 68°F | 3.37" |
| Oct | 81°F | 57°F | 2.30" |
| Nov | 71°F | 46°F | 2.94" |
| Dec | 64°F | 41°F | 4.35" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Albany
Albany has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
13.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
South Georgia Specialty Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Albany
Albany's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 21.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Albany
Public · 4-year · 5,956 students · in-state tuition $5,666 · 33% graduate · median earnings $44,975 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, 34 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Albany
Albany has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Jimmy Carter National Historical Park (34 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayAndersonville National Historic Site
National Historic Site
43 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Albany
Central Library
300 Pine Avenue, Albany
Northwest Library
2507 Dawson Road, Albany
Southside Library
2114 Habersham Road, Albany
Tallulah Massey Library
2004 Stratford Drive, Albany
Westtown Library
2124 Waddell Road, Albany
Cities Near Albany
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Albany?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Albany FAQ
Is Albany, Georgia affordable?⌄
Albany's median rent is $931/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,240/year. Median home value is $124,300.
Is Albany, Georgia safe?⌄
Albany's violent crime rate was 1485 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3761 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Albany, Georgia?⌄
Albany has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Albany, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Albany is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $931/month and median household income is $47,240/year. The median home value is $124,300. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Albany, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Albany is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from