Population 21,853 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Albany
Household size in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.64 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Albany run small, averaging 2.44 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.48, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.7 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.7 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 39.7, the median age in Albany is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in the wider San Francisco area, where the median age is 41.3. The median age has climbed from 38.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Albany: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 4.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Albany has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Albany
Renters in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.9% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 52.6% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.9% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.0% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Albany than nationally: 46.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 36.5% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the east. The renter share has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Albany than nationally: 6.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across the San Francisco area. Vacancy is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1949 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Albany is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1959, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the southeast. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 40 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,425 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,578 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,925 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,608 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,183 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Albany pays $2,608 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,183 a month since 2006–10, up 83%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.8% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Albany
Bachelor's degrees in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.6% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 71.6% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 72.1% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 78.1% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Albany is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (78.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 24 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.4% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.0% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Albany: 97.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.3 points, as it has nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 52 have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Albany
| Period | Albany | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Albany has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 34 have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Albany compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | 2.44 | 39.7 | 6.3% | 46.0% | 6.7% | 1959 | $2,608 | 78.1% | 97.7% | 3.3% |
| El Cerrito | 2.40 | 42.7 | 7.7% | 40.5% | 3.9% | 1959 | $2,910 | 67.4% | 96.2% | 6.0% |
| Berkeley | 2.33 | 37.5 | 5.4% | 53.4% | 13.2% | 1953 | $2,378 | 74.8% | 96.1% | 5.9% |
| Emeryville | 2.20 | 36.0 | 11.2% | 68.9% | 11.1% | 1965 | $2,440 | 61.7% | 94.6% | 7.1% |
| Richmond | 3.04 | 37.4 | 15.6% | 45.9% | 6.1% | 1962 | $1,926 | 28.2% | 75.0% | 8.2% |
| Orinda Village | 2.66 | 50.3 | 8.5% | 6.5% | 7.1% | 1989 | $3,347 | 76.0% | 97.7% | 4.0% |
| El Sobrante | 2.92 | 42.5 | 11.1% | 26.2% | 7.8% | 1970 | $2,563 | 42.4% | 92.4% | 5.5% |
| Piedmont | 2.75 | 45.5 | 6.8% | 14.0% | 6.6% | 1942 | $2,644 | 87.9% | 98.8% | 2.0% |
| North Richmond | 3.67 | 33.5 | 8.7% | 39.0% | 9.3% | 1983 | $1,969 | 20.5% | 69.4% | 5.8% |
| San Pablo | 3.15 | 37.6 | 16.0% | 50.1% | 4.9% | 1969 | $2,238 | 23.9% | 78.5% | 8.2% |
| Orinda | 2.74 | 48.0 | 4.7% | 10.1% | 3.5% | 1965 | $2,489 | 84.9% | 98.2% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Coronado, CA · Kennett Square, PA · Horizon City, TX · Nogales, AZ · River Falls, WI · Salem, OH · Socastee, SC · Anacortes, WA · Carrboro, NC · Youngsville, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Albany. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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