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Living in Albany, OR

Small city in Oregon

Albany is a small city in Oregon, home to about 57,000 people, with 507,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Albany a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Mild summers: highs around 80°F
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Dog-friendly: 3 dog parks within 9 mi
  • Great outdoors: hills or mountains nearby

👎 Cons

  • Smaller job market: about 507,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer graduates: 29% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Cloudier than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Albany ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
57,000
507,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
49°F / 80°F
Average daily highs · 3″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$421k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,030/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
102
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,084
State income tax per resident · 1.1% property tax
Safety
0.3× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
11 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly earthquakes, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
1
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
29%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
PDX
71 mi away

Living in Albany: common questions

What is the cost of living in Albany?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $421k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,030 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 102, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Albany?

Oregon collects about $3,084 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.1% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Albany safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Albany?

Albany has cool winters: winter days average around 49°F and summer days around 80°F, with roughly 3″ of snow a year.

Does Albany get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.33 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Albany?

The nearest major airport is PDX, about 71 mi away.

How Albany scores

Each bar compares Albany with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Excellent
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Very safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Average
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Good

Places like Albany

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

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Is Albany right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.