Albany receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Albany
Longview-Kelso
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 30%
vs40 · Bottom 20%
Growth
56 · Top 40%
vs45 · Bottom 42%
Climate
68 · Top 44%
vs74 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
31 · Bottom 21%
vs28 · Bottom 16%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 14%
vs74 · Bottom 16%
Access
74 · Bottom 47%
vs76 · Top 50%
Economic stability
64 · Top 33%
vs59 · Top 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Albany | Longview-Kelso | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 130,706 | 112,360 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,329 | $76,531 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,924 | $38,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 57/sq mi | 98/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $376,400 | $397,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,320 | $1,206 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.9% | 68.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | -0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 17.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 12.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 235 | 252 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 27.0% | -4.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 27.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.1 | 41.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Albany
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Longview-Kelso
Elevated or high exposure: volcanic activity, earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Albany
59
Your Score
54
Area Score
Longview-Kelso
57
Your Score
52
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Albany, OR Metro Area · Longview-Kelso, WA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology