York-Hanover receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
York-Hanover
Opportunity
75 · Top 16%
vs77 · Top 14%
Growth
41 · Bottom 35%
vs53 · Top 45%
Climate
60 · Bottom 26%
vs64 · Bottom 42%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 10%
vs83 · Top 11%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 40%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
99 · Top 4%
vs93 · Top 19%
Economic stability
72 · Top 23%
vs92 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Albany-Schenectady-Troy | York-Hanover | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 906,052 | 462,924 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $88,074 | $84,829 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,088 | $41,601 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 322/sq mi | 512/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $285,900 | $248,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,280 | $1,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.2% | 76.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | 2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.1% | 27.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 8.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,904 | 1,340 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -16.7% | -21.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.7" | 42.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 28.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.5 | 41.1 | 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-Schenectady-Troy
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
York-Hanover
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
75
Your Score
74
Area Score
York-Hanover
80
Your Score
78
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metro Area · York-Hanover, PA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology