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Just to add something that hasn't been mentioned, but Madison is about 76 sq miles and has about 240,000 in the city, while Albany is only 21 sq miles with around 98,000 within the city. Albany is the 4th oldest city in the US. Hence, its old look. Madison has a slightly lower metro area crime rate too: http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2013...wtoHigh%29.pdf (most recent/new list)
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 08-11-2014 at 06:45 PM..
Just to add something that hasn't been mentioned, but Madison is about 76 sq miles and has about 240,000 in the city, while Albany is only 21 sq miles with around 98,000 within the city. Albany is the 4th oldest city in the US. Hence, its old look. Madison has a slightly lower metro area crime rate too: http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2013...wtoHigh%29.pdf
Albany, though, is essentially attached to both Schenectady and Troy, both of whom run close to 100, 000, and there are all the intermediate towns ( Watervliet, etc). The area easily runs well over a half-million, and the entire Capital District is very, very urban, unlike Madison, which feels more suburban..
Albany, though, is essentially attached to both Schenectady and Troy, both of whom run close to 100, 000, and there are all the intermediate towns ( Watervliet, etc). The area easily runs well over a half-million, and the entire Capital District is very, very urban, unlike Madison, which feels more suburban..
Yes, this is true, as the A-S-T metro area has about 800,000, with around 1 million in the CSA/region. Like I mentioned earlier, Madison would be the 6th biggest metro in NY State behind Syracuse. So, that does put things into perspective in terms of metro population.
Good point about the very urban small cities like Watervliet, Cohoes and Rensselaer, which are very urban. Cohoes even has row houses.
Albany, though, is essentially attached to both Schenectady and Troy, both of whom run close to 100, 000, and there are all the intermediate towns ( Watervliet, etc). The area easily runs well over a half-million, and the entire Capital District is very, very urban, unlike Madison, which feels more suburban..
I don't agree with this. Albany has more "urban grit" for sure, but the Madison Ishmus is quite urban. Because of the decree that the capital must be the tallest building, there aren't any tall buildings like with Albany (similar to DC vs other cities its size). But in terms walking the capital area, I just don't see it. Madison downtown is a better place to walk with more to do than Albany, it's just "newer" looking and nicer overall - and 'scrapers are disallowed. Outside of the 9-5 weekday work times, there just seem to be a lot more people doing a lot more things in Madison. Unless Albany has changed drastically in the last 6-7 years.
I like cold snowy winters and summers that aren't too hot
I don't own a car
I'm coming from Portland, Oregon. I'm tired of the hot weather.
I don't know about Albany, but Madison summers can be pretty uncomfortable. You'll need a strong air conditioner. It's not deep south uncomfortable, but the humidity is similar. If you were tired of the hot weather in Portland, then you'd be uncomfortable in Madison because it's very muggy in comparison. Unless it was the dry heat you were tired of in Portland.
You said you don't own a car, so I'd imagine you will bike a lot. The 2nd time I lived in Madison I biked a lot to places & I always ended up getting to my destination covered in sweat any time between end of May 1st to Oct 1st. I'm 140 pounds so it's not like I'm a large guy who overheats easily.
I don't agree with this. Albany has more "urban grit" for sure, but the Madison Ishmus is quite urban. Because of the decree that the capital must be the tallest building, there aren't any tall buildings like with Albany (similar to DC vs other cities its size). But in terms walking the capital area, I just don't see it. Madison downtown is a better place to walk with more to do than Albany, it's just "newer" looking and nicer overall - and 'scrapers are disallowed. Outside of the 9-5 weekday work times, there just seem to be a lot more people doing a lot more things in Madison. Unless Albany has changed drastically in the last 6-7 years.
Albany is old-fashioned, old school New York. The Isthmus is bright, suburban California by comparison.
I don't agree with this. Albany has more "urban grit" for sure, but the Madison Ishmus is quite urban. Because of the decree that the capital must be the tallest building, there aren't any tall buildings like with Albany (similar to DC vs other cities its size). But in terms walking the capital area, I just don't see it. Madison downtown is a better place to walk with more to do than Albany, it's just "newer" looking and nicer overall - and 'scrapers are disallowed. Outside of the 9-5 weekday work times, there just seem to be a lot more people doing a lot more things in Madison. Unless Albany has changed drastically in the last 6-7 years.
A lot of stuff goes on in the Center Square area of Lark Street and in some of the other neighborhoods and cities. Here's a streetview of Lark Street: http://goo.gl/maps/koh8b
I have been to both and they're both fine for smaller sized cities. I guess it depends on what your main priorities are for choosing a city. Both are pedestrian friendly in the neighborhoods near downtown.
Madison, while not entirely a college town due to it being the state capital, does have a college town feel due to the University being right in the heart of the city. Madison seems to have little crime or ghetto areas. It's a liberal feeling city that is very nice all around. The lakes in the middle of the city make for an interesting dynamic as well.
Albany is technically smaller than Madison but it's part of a larger metro area and it feels more urban. Sections of Albany could pass for inner-city NYC or Philadelphia. Unlike Madison there are neighborhoods to avoid in Albany and it has some grit. Another thing to consider is that Schenectady is nearby and could be another option in the metro area to live in. To me the major advantage of Albany over Madison is the proximity to nearby places for trips. I imagine that Albany is a bit cheaper too.
Some things to consider with each:
Madison
-College town feel
-little crime
-Liberal population
-cleaner
Albany
-Bigger city feel with some grit.
-Better nearby locations for trips (Adirondacks, Boston, NYC, Montreal, New England)
-Some bad neighborhoods to avoid.
-better architecture
I have been to both and they're both fine for smaller sized cities. I guess it depends on what your main priorities are for choosing a city. Both are pedestrian friendly in the neighborhoods near downtown.
Madison, while not entirely a college town due to it being the state capital, does have a college town feel due to the University being right in the heart of the city. Madison seems to have little crime or ghetto areas. It's a liberal feeling city that is very nice all around. The lakes in the middle of the city make for an interesting dynamic as well.
Albany is technically smaller than Madison but it's part of a larger metro area and it feels more urban. Sections of Albany could pass for inner-city NYC or Philadelphia. Unlike Madison there are neighborhoods to avoid in Albany and it has some grit. Another thing to consider is that Schenectady is nearby and could be another option in the metro area to live in. To me the major advantage of Albany over Madison is the proximity to nearby places for trips. I imagine that Albany is a bit cheaper too.
Some things to consider with each:
Madison
-College town feel
-little crime
-Liberal population
-cleaner
Albany
-Bigger city feel with some grit.
-Better nearby locations for trips (Adirondacks, Boston, NYC, Montreal, New England)
-Some bad neighborhoods to avoid.
-better architecture
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 08-13-2014 at 09:05 AM..
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