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A new WalletHub study released the best and worst state capitals to live in. Where did Albany fall?

WalletHub compared all 50 capitals across 48 different measurements covering topics like affordability, economic stability, quality of life, education and health care. Out of all 50 state capitals, Albany fell right in the middle, ranking 25th place.

“A state’s capital city is more than just the seat of its government – it’s also often the center of its economic activity," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. "Some state capitals boast incredible job markets, high average salaries, world-class universities, and an abundance of attractions. Unfortunately, others have populations that are struggling financially, failing public education systems and poor public health systems."

Here's what to know.

Why is Albany the 25th best state capital to live in?

New York's capital was listed as the 25th best state capital to live in, with an overall score of 50.56 out of 100.

WalletHub's assessment ranked Albany at No. 40 for affordability, No. 32 for economic well-being and at No. 18 for quality of education and health.

Albany fell just outside the top 10 for the quality of life category, ranking at the No. 12 spot.

WalletHub's top 10 capital states to live in

1. Austin with an overall score of 64.17
2. Raleigh, North Carolina, with an overall score of 60.42
3. Atlanta with an overall score of 60.17
4. Madison, Wisconsin, with an overall score of 60.04
5. Boise, Idaho, with an overall score of 59.72
6. St. Paul, Minnesota, with an overall score of 56.25
7. Lincoln, Nebraska, with an overall score of 56.21
8. Bismarck, North Dakota, with an overall score of 55.94
9. Denver with an overall score of 55.86
10. Salt Lake City with an overall score of 55.63

WalletHub's bottom 10 state capitals to live in

• No. 50: Jackson, Mississippi, with an overall score of 35.81
• No. 49: Augusta, Maine, with an overall score of 39.81
• No. 48: Trenton, New Jersey, with an overall score of 40.05
• No. 47: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with an overall score of 41.79
• No. 46: Little Rock, Arkansas, with an overall score of 41.97
• No. 45: Dover, Delaware, with an overall score of 42.15
• No. 44: Montgomery, Alabama, with an overall score of 42.35
• No. 43: Hartford, Connecticut, with an overall score of 43.03
• No. 42: Frankfort, Kentucky, with an overall score of 43.13
• No. 41: Carson City, Nevada, with an overall score of 43.57

How WalletHub assessed best and worst state capitals to live in

To identify the best capitals to live in, WalletHub compared all 50 across four dimensions: affordability, economic well-being, quality of education and health and quality of life. Each dimension was evaluated through 48 relevant metrics, according to WalletHub.

The affordability category analyzed these metrics:

• Cost of living
• Median household income
• Housing costs

The economic well-being category analyzed these factors:

• Population growth
• Income growth
• Median credit score
• Income inequality
• Debt as a share of median income
• Share of population living in poverty
• Unemployment rate
• Underemployment rate
• Growth in number of businesses
• Foreclosure rate
• Bankruptcy rate
• Building-permit activity
• Share of state, local and federal government employees.

The quality of education & health category analyzed these metrics:

• K-12 school-system quality
• High school graduation rate
• Average university score
• Number of universities in the top 791
• Share of adults with at least a Bachelor's Degree
• Share of population with health insurance coverage
• Quality of public hospital system
• Hospital beds per capita
• Premature death rate
• Infant mortality rate
• Share of adults in good health
• Adult obesity rate
• Physical inactivity

The quality of life category analyzed these metrics:

• Share of millennial newcomers
• Number of attractions
• Nightlife options per capita
• Restaurants per capita
• Affordable restaurants with ratings over 4.5 stars
• Coffee shops per capita
• Movie theaters per capita
• Fitness centers per capita
• Walkability
• Access to public transportation
• Average commute time
• Driving fatalities per capita
• Average weekly work hours
• Mildness of weather
• Air quality
• Sports fan-friendliness
• Violent crime rate
• Property crime rate
• Perception of safety

Data used to create the ranking was collected as of Jan. 19, 2026, and the information was sourced from multiple entities, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, County Health Rankings, Walk Score, TripAdvisor and more.

— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Where does Albany fall? See the best and worst state capitals to live in

Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

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