What it's like to live in Albany
Albany is a smaller city in Oregon with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Albany deals with unemployment above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Albany compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Albany
Based on Albany's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,744
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $54,880 a year
- 55% of Albany renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$77,840
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,920
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,372/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,372 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $389,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $389,200 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 28% above US
5.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 50% below US
164 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1549/100k · Albany Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 18% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
20 public schools inside the boundary
There are 20 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (72 miles away).
Bottom line
Albany's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,372/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Albany
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