Albany GA vs St. Charles MO — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Albany, GA

Georgia · Population: 67,939

  • Median HH Income$45,201
  • Median Home Price$131,279
  • Unemployment11.5%
  • Bachelor's+21.5%

St. Charles, MO

Missouri · Population: 71,542

  • Median HH Income$55,578
  • Median Home Price$144,200
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+22.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Albany
67,939
St. Charles
71,542
St. Charles +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Albany
N/A
St. Charles
N/A
Median Age
Albany
35.1
Albany +
St. Charles
37.9
Foreign Born
Albany
1.7%
St. Charles
4.2%
St. Charles +
White
Albany
18.9%
St. Charles
80.4%
St. Charles +
Black
Albany
76.3%
Albany +
St. Charles
6.7%
Asian
Albany
0.7%
St. Charles
1.4%
St. Charles +
Hispanic
Albany
2.5%
St. Charles
7.7%
St. Charles +
Spanish at Home
Albany
N/A
St. Charles
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Albany
$45,201
St. Charles
$55,578
St. Charles +
Per Capita Income
Albany
$24,527
St. Charles
$31,499
St. Charles +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Albany
$57,405
St. Charles
$58,527
St. Charles +
Unemployment Rate
Albany
11.5%
St. Charles
4.7%
St. Charles +
Poverty Rate
Albany
29.2%
St. Charles
18.7%
St. Charles +
Bachelor's Degree+
Albany
21.5%
St. Charles
22.7%
St. Charles +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Albany
$131,279
Albany +
St. Charles
$144,200
Homeownership Rate
Albany
39.3%
St. Charles
61.4%
St. Charles +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Albany
392
Albany +
St. Charles
501
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Albany
1752
Albany +
St. Charles
2418

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Albany
43.0%
St. Charles
35.9%
St. Charles +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Albany
19.2%
St. Charles
10.4%
St. Charles +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Albany
20.4%
St. Charles
16.0%
St. Charles +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Albany
16.8%
St. Charles
7.1%
St. Charles +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Albany
11.1%
Albany +
St. Charles
18.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Albany
19.3%
St. Charles
12.5%
St. Charles +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Albany
66.2°F
St. Charles
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Albany
51.4 in
St. Charles
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Albany
9.8 µg/m³
St. Charles
9.3 µg/m³
St. Charles +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Albany
55.0%
St. Charles
55.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Albany
22.0 min
St. Charles
18.3 min
St. Charles +

Which City is Right for You?

St. Charles leads in median household income at $55,578, while albany offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $131,279. On public safety, Albany is safer with a violent crime rate of 392 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in St. Charles. St. Charles has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and St. Charles has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.3 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Charles scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.9%.

Compare More Cities

About Albany & St. Charles