What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Albany, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Albany is a city in Alameda County, California, with an estimated population of 19,439. It anchors the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metro area. The population has contracted 1.0% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Albany is $1,272,260 as of 2026-04, up 0.9% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +1.6% annual growth (-9.2% from the 5-year peak). Rents in Albany average $3,145 per month, down 2.4% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 44 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Prices have come off recent highs (-9.2% from peak). Buyers may have more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Reasons people move here
- The data is the data: Albany has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 1-criteria momentum score on this page.
- Data is sourced from public datasets (Zillow, US Census) with full citations on the methodology page.
Things to know first
- Net out-migration: population shrinking 1.0% per year — services, schools, and tax base will follow.
- Expensive AND not growing: median home $1,272,260 with only +0.9% YoY. You're paying premium pricing for a flat trend.
More about Albany
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.