Brooklyn, NY and Albuquerque, NM pose unique benefits and challenges to both residents and tourists. From the vibrant cultural scene in Brooklyn to the natural beauty in Albuquerque, each city offers distinct experiences. As we delve into various categories such as crime and safety, cost of living, education, and many more, essential insights surface that can aid those contemplating relocation or planning a visit to these cities. Quick navigation through these realms will help make informed decisions.
In terms of crime and safety, Brooklyn and Albuquerque show stark differences. While both areas have crime, Albuquerque's crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, putting it among the cities with the highest crime rates in the U.S. On the other hand, Brooklyn's crime rate is fairly average for a large city, with certain neighborhoods safer than others. Both cities have comprehensive police departments with community outreach programs to improve safety.
Cost of Living
When comparing the cost of living, Albuquerque is generally more affordable than Brooklyn. Brooklyn, being part of New York City, is one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S., with high costs for housing, food, and entertainment. However, the resources and opportunities available in Brooklyn can offset these costs for residents and tourists alike.
Income Tax
New York has a progressive income tax and residents of Brooklyn will also pay a flat city income tax. In contrast, New Mexico has lower income tax rates and Albuquerque does not impose an additional city income tax.
Property Tax
Property tax in Brooklyn is generally higher than in Albuquerque. The tax burden in Brooklyn can be significantly higher than in Albuquerque due to the high property values.
Sales Tax
New York City, and therefore Brooklyn, has a sales tax rate of 8.875%, higher than Albuquerque's 7.875%. However, some items like groceries and clothing under $110 are exempt from sales tax in NYC.
Income
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Estimated median household income
$67,567
$58,512
Estimated per capita income
$39,536
$35,738
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
185.4
93.6
If you make $50,000 in Albuquerque, you will have to make $99,038 in Brooklyn to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
While Brooklyn is largely urban with a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational green spaces, Albuquerque offers significant natural beauty, with the Sandia Mountains to the east, and the Rio Grande flowing through the city. Albuquerque’s 5,312 feet elevation gives it a high desert climate, while Brooklyn, at sea level, experiences a humid subtropical climate typical of the U.S. Northeastern coast.
Geographical information
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Land area
70.6 sq. miles
180.6 sq. miles
Population density
35,956 people per sq. mile
3,114.4 people per sq. mile
Relative area comparison
Brooklyn, NY Albuquerque, NM
Education
In terms of education, both cities offer a number of quality public and private schools and institutions of higher education. However, Brooklyn has a slight edge, having access to the wider New York City school system and numerous prestigious universities. In contrast, Albuquerque's education system struggles with low graduation rates, though its higher education institutions like the University of New Mexico are consistently well-reviewed.
The economy in Brooklyn is diverse, with large employment sectors in healthcare, education, and professional services. In contrast, Albuquerque's economy is centered around the public sector, with federal, state, and local government jobs prevalent. The city is also a hub for high-tech industries and research institutions, with ripe opportunities for those in the STEM fields.
Biggest Employers
Brooklyn's largest employers include JP Morgan Chase, New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, and Macy’s. Albuquerque's top employers are the State of New Mexico, Sandia National Laboratories, and the University of New Mexico.
In Brooklyn (Kings County), 82.1% voted for Democrats and 16.9% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), 55.8% voted for Democrats and 39.4% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
2020
76.9%
61.3%
22.2%
36.7%
1.0%
2.0%
2016
79.6%
52.4%
17.5%
34.6%
2.9%
13.0%
2012
82.1%
55.8%
16.9%
39.4%
0.9%
4.9%
2008
79.9%
60.2%
20.1%
38.8%
0.0%
1.0%
2004
75.0%
51.6%
24.3%
47.4%
0.7%
0.9%
2000
81.0%
48.8%
15.7%
46.8%
3.3%
4.4%
1996
80.1%
48.3%
15.1%
43.2%
4.9%
8.5%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
CATHOLIC CHURCH
24.9%
26.5%
7.5%
10.7%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
3.8%
0.3%
4.2%
0.5%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
1.9%
0.1%
3.8%
0.5%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
1.0%
0.4%
5.2%
1.9%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.7%
0.7%
2.3%
1.9%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.2%
0.4%
2.0%
1.9%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
0.2%
2.6%
2.4%
11.4%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.0%
0.3%
0.6%
1.7%
Weather
Weather-wise, Albuquerque typically enjoys more sunshine throughout the year, with mild winters and hot, dry summers. On the other hand, Brooklyn experiences four distinct seasons, with hot, humid summers and potentially harsh winters. This can be an attractive feature for tourists who enjoy experiencing different seasons, but can also be a challenge for those unfamiliar with snowy conditions.
Weather and climate
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Temperature - Average
55.1°F
55.6°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
68.7%
44.3%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
26.1%
46%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
76.8%
63%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
50.7%
17%
Precipitation - Yearly average
46.5 in
9.4 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
53.4 in
19.2 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
16.7%
27.8%
Sunshine amount - Average
60.2%
82.7%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
20%
9%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
64%
82%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
44%
73%
Wind speed - Average
10.6 mph
8.9 mph
Average climate in Brooklyn, New York
Average climate in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
2018
93
95
0.31
0.23
16.8
10.3
24.2
35.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
20.3
7.0
4.3
0.4
0.5
2017
95
82
0.25
0.24
17.0
10.4
24.5
33.5
N/A
N/A
N/A
18.4
7.1
5.7
0.3
0.4
2016
93
86
0.31
0.22
17.7
10.4
24.8
33.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
16.0
7.2
5.3
0.5
0.8
2015
100
84
0.38
0.23
18.2
11.2
24.1
30.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
16.0
8.0
6.1
0.7
0.7
2014
95
89
0.38
0.22
18.5
11.7
23.5
31.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
22.0
7.8
6.1
0.9
0.6
2013
96
91
0.41
0.22
18.9
11.8
24.4
34.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
21.8
8.5
5.7
1.0
0.8
2012
98
116
0.44
0.18
18.3
13.7
24.4
33.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
26.6
9.2
9.3
1.6
0.7
2011
107
130
0.43
0.21
20.7
13.5
23.6
34.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
28.6
10.3
9.9
2.4
0.4
2010
112
92
0.43
0.15
19.4
12.2
24.7
32.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
25.1
10.0
6.8
2.3
N/A
2009
104
81
0.43
0.16
21.5
12.5
20.7
30.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
26.2
10.2
6.9
3.1
N/A
2008
109
91
0.47
0.21
22.6
11.8
21.3
31.5
0.013
N/A
N/A
20.8
11.8
6.5
4.1
N/A
2007
121
112
0.53
0.29
23.5
13.0
20.8
31.4
0.016
N/A
N/A
19.7
12.4
6.7
4.8
N/A
2006
116
103
0.61
0.33
24.2
14.2
20.7
31.8
0.018
N/A
N/A
21.1
13.0
N/A
5.7
N/A
2005
107
85
0.74
0.32
26.1
13.9
19.6
29.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
20.0
N/A
N/A
7.5
N/A
2004
106
89
0.74
0.32
25.8
16.6
18.5
29.8
0.030
0.003
N/A
21.5
N/A
N/A
7.1
N/A
2003
107
115
0.81
0.37
27.4
17.6
18.4
31.9
0.021
0.004
26.9
25.1
N/A
N/A
7.4
N/A
2002
122
91
0.76
0.43
27.9
18.9
19.9
29.1
0.008
0.005
26.2
23.1
N/A
N/A
6.5
N/A
2001
121
81
0.80
0.67
29.5
17.2
22.3
29.4
0.020
N/A
27.3
20.9
N/A
N/A
7.8
N/A
2000
115
95
0.92
0.81
29.8
17.0
20.3
27.9
0.022
N/A
22.2
17.7
N/A
N/A
7.4
N/A
Natural disasters
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
56.4%
6.4%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
30.8%
802.6%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
17%
9%
Transportation
Brooklyn benefits from an extensive public transit system including subways, buses, and ferries, which also provide access to other parts of NYC. Albuquerque's public transit system is less developed, with most residents relying on personal vehicles. The city does offer the Sun Van paratransit service for disabled travelers.
Transport
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Amtrak stations
0
1
Amtrak stations nearby
3
1
FAA registered aircraft
149
1
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
2
17
Means of transportation to work
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Bicycle
0.5%
0.9%
Bus
10.4%
0.8%
Carpooled
8%
9.6%
Car alone
22.4%
85.1%
Motorcycle
0%
0.2%
Railroad
1.4%
0%
Streetcar
0.2%
0%
Subway
44.8%
0%
Taxicab
0.7%
0%
Walked
8.8%
2.3%
Average travel time to work
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Average
44.5 min
24.5 min
Real Estate
Brooklyn's real estate market is notoriously expensive, both for renting and buying, with prices reflecting its urban advantages. On the other hand, Albuquerque's real estate landscape is much more affordable with a variety of residential styles from modern apartments to traditional Adobe homes.
Neighborhoods
Both Brooklyn and Albuquerque boast culturally diverse neighborhoods. Brooklyn has a range of neighborhoods from the high-end Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights to hipster-centric Williamsburg. Albuquerque's neighborhoods include the historic Old Town, artsy Nob Hill, and scenic North Albuquerque Acres.
Houses and residents
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Houses
930,866
256,814
Average household size (people)
2.7
2.4
Houses occupied
880,727 (94.6%)
243,582 (94.8%)
Houses occupied by owners
238,290 (27.1%)
147,964 (60.7%)
Houses occupied by renters
642,437 (72.9%)
95,618 (39.3%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,589
$893.82
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$1,621,117
$171,149
Estimated median house or condo value
$793,300
$251,500
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.6
3.9
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
5.2
6.2
Renting percentage
72.3%
39.7%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
13,184
1,421.7
Household income disparities
48.5%
45.9%
Housing units without a mortgage
29,251 (32.9%)
1,631 (1.6%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
183 (0.2%)
3,560 (3.6%)
Housing units with a mortgage
59,793 (67.1%)
97,744 (98.4%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
4,512 (5.1%)
309 (0.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
5,098 (5.7%)
6,864 (6.9%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.5%
1.1%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
45,971
14,060
State government workers
27,527
20,531
Unpaid family workers
2,234
359
Industries and Occupations
In Brooklyn, the job market is diverse, with occupations spread across healthcare, education, retail, and arts. Albuquerque's job market is more centralized, focused on government, healthcare, and education. The city is emerging as a hub for technology and research jobs, thanks primarily to institutions like Sandia National Laboratories and Intel.
Better medical facilities can be found in Brooklyn due to its location within New York City and the city's extensive healthcare network. In fact, "US News & World Report" regularly recognizes several Brooklyn hospitals among the best in the country. Albuquerque is home to respectable healthcare facilities, with University of New Mexico Hospital standing out, but overall, access to healthcare can be more limited than in Brooklyn.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Brooklyn boasts robust infrastructure, well-maintained roads, and efficient public transportation. New York City’s network of subways, buses, and ferries allow easy navigation across Brooklyn and beyond. Conversely, Albuquerque requires more dependency on personal vehicles, although improvements in transit systems like ART (Albuquerque Rapid Transit) have improved navigation within the city.
Infrastructure
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Hospitals
104
36
TV stations
29
18
Bank branches located here
271
137
Bank institutions located here
41
24
Main business address for public companies
9
8
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
12
7
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
75
30
Schools
School facilities
Type
Brooklyn
Albuquerque
Private elementary/middle schools
151
27
Private high schools
128
19
Public elementary/middle schools
405
133
Public high schools
176
58
Colleges/Universities
48
18
Culture and Food
Both cities offer rich cultural experiences. Brooklyn is known for its diverse and cosmopolitan cultural scene, with a wide array of world cuisines, art institutions, music festivals, and more. Albuquerque, on the other hand, is praised for its unique Southwestern culture, with a blend of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican influences, prevalent in its local food, art, and architecture.
Sports Teams
Sports enthusiasts will find more professional teams to follow in Brooklyn, including the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and the NHL's New York Islanders. Albuquerque does not host any major league sports teams but does host a AAA minor league baseball team, the Albuquerque Isotopes.
Brooklyn, NY
Albuquerque, NM
