Albany receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Longview-Kelso
Albany
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 20%
vs46 · Bottom 30%
Growth
45 · Bottom 42%
vs56 · Top 40%
Climate
74 · Top 24%
vs68 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
28 · Bottom 16%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
74 · Bottom 16%
vs72 · Bottom 14%
Access
76 · Top 50%
vs74 · Bottom 47%
Economic stability
59 · Top 40%
vs64 · Top 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Longview-Kelso | Albany | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 112,360 | 130,706 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,531 | $76,329 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,105 | $34,924 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 98/sq mi | 57/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $397,500 | $376,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,206 | $1,320 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.0% | 66.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.1% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 21.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 13.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 252 | 235 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.2% | 27.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 26.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.5 | 40.1 | 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
Longview-Kelso
Elevated or high exposure: volcanic activity, earthquake, inland flooding.
Albany
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Longview-Kelso
57
Your Score
52
Area Score
Albany
59
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Longview-Kelso, WA Metro Area · Albany, OR Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology