When choosing between the two, Albuquerque is the better choice than Greensboro. For starters, Albuquerque has an affordable cost of living. It has manageable traffic, friendly locals, and has a wide variety of outdoor activities for you and your family.
Sure, Greensboro is an affordable city. It is even cheaper than Albuquerque.
And when it comes to crimes, both cities are higher than the national average, with Albuquerque being a bit higher than Greensboro.
But what broke the deal with Greensboro was their property taxes. Housing is cheap. But property tax in Greensboro is high.
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What are the pros and cons of Albuquerque vs. Greensboro?
While Albuquerque is better than Greensboro, the latter is not that bad.
There are still advantages to living in Greensboro.
Here, I will be touching on the pros and cons of living in each city.
You may want to know what you are getting into before you finalize your move.
Read on and learn.
Pros
Here are the things that should get you excited about Greensboro.
- An Affordable City
- Traffic
- A City for the Artists
One of the things you would notice in Greensboro is its higher property tax than most. Despite that, Greensboro is an affordable city.
There are five large cities in North Carolina.
Out of these five, Greensboro ranks second regarding affordability.
And with inflation on the rise, the lower cost of living in Greensboro will work to your advantage.
One thing you need to know about Greensboro is its traffic.
There is no little known traffic here; you can even say it is nonexistent.
And one little trivia that you should know is that the city ranked 1st for traffic and driver satisfaction conducted by Waze.
That means you can quickly go from Point A to Point B in Greensboro without the need to be frustrated with motorists and heavy traffic.
You do not necessarily think of Greensboro when you talk of the arts. This city is not the first that comes to mind.
Many do not know that the city has a welcoming vibe to artists. It is here that you, as an artist, can easily land a performing job at the Carolina Theater. There are galleries around that can tap on your talent with painting.
The Community theater is another great option to try.
And this is just not it.
Thanks to the Greensboro Mural Project, there are murals everywhere you go, allowing artists to paint fantastic art projects.
And if you are into music, Greensboro is the city for you.
You can join a symphony; there is an opera and many ballet performances.
Cons
Greensboro is not all about beautiful things.
There are downfalls too.
Read on to find out.
- A Job Market Spiraling Down
- Property Taxes
- Crime Rates
If you are looking for work in Greensboro, expect job hunting to be complicated.
Greensboro is not a city with a growing workforce. The city has an unemployment rate that is higher than the national average. It also has a poverty level of 19.9% when the national average is only at 15.1%.
And if you plan on looking for jobs in Greensboro, this part here is bad news.
Before you move to the city, it is advisable that you already have a job waiting.
The homes in Greensboro are affordable.
But what costs more in this city is the property taxes that go with the homes you buy.
Out of the five major cities in North Carolina, Greensboro tops the list regarding high property taxes.
I am not sure about you, but this is already a major turn-off for me.
This part is undeniably one of the most important considerations you must consider before moving.
Crimes in Greensboro are steadily rising.
Over the past year or so, the crime rates of Greensboro have been higher than the national average. Property crimes are common here.
But as always, with places high in crime rates, you only have to know where to go and where not to go.
Never go to shadowy parts of the city. These are the southern and eastern portions of Greensboro.
Albuquerque Living
Albuquerque is famous for its low cost of living and its wide array of outdoor activities.
Aside from these two, the city also has friendly locals and a slower pace of living. The traffic here is manageable, too!
Pros
Here are a few beautiful things to expect when moving to Albuquerque.
- The Outdoors
- Friendly Locals
- Slow Pace
- Traffic
Albuquerque is synonymous with the great outdoors, presenting its residents with a wide variety of outdoor activities all year round.
The city is great for backpacking, with the most popular destination, The Sandias, ideal for a weekend getaway.
Aside from hiking, cycling, and a whole lot more, Albuquerque also has lakes. And the city has a lot of them everywhere.
As such, fishing and swimming can also be your options.
And when you think I already have everything covered, why not try skiing during winter?
Yes, you can ski in some parts of Albuquerque, too!
Albuquerque has a lot of friendly and heartwarming communities.
These communities have genuinely friendly locals and can easily make you feel at home on your first day in the city.
There is no such thing as being over-friendly in Albuquerque. Some people can often even mistake friendliness as over and beyond the normal. But fear not.
That is how things are here.
Compared to other cities, the pace of life in Albuquerque is slower.
It seems like everybody takes their time in doing things.
They even have the time to walk at the park on some afternoons. And this is something residents of other major cities cannot understand.
In Albuquerque, they take their time. They are not slow to the extent of not finishing tasks. But they don’t rush either.
The residents here appreciate that life is something you do not rush.
Other major cities have congested roads, long commutes, and severe traffic problems.
Well, not in Albuquerque.
In Albuquerque, traffic is manageable. The average time to commute here is less compared to the national average.
And that is a great thing, especially if you commute your way to work every day.
Cons
Of course, Albuquerque also has downsides.
Here are a few of them.
- Not Enough Jobs
- Windy
- Crimes
Jobs in Albuquerque may not be as much compared to other metros.
Yes, there are jobs, but unemployment is higher than the national average.
Also, the wages may not be as competitive for those with jobs as in other cities.
Before you move here, make sure to have a prospective job-ready.
Technically, Albuquerque is a canyon.
And as all canyons are, expect the city to be windy. The wind usually appears during storms. And when they occur, the winds bring a disturbing kind of noise with them.
Not only that, but the winds may also bring with it dust. And this is bad news if you have allergies.
Naturally, you would want to move to a safe city.
In Albuquerque, lowering their crime rate is a significant concern.
Property crimes are also rampant. Most of these crimes are from the use of drugs. The same is true with car prowling and even theft at home.
If you are moving to Albuquerque, try checking out properties outside the city center. Neighborhoods here would be much safer.
Albuquerque or Greensboro – Which is cheaper?
Generally, Greensboro is cheaper than Albuquerque. Albuquerque may be one of the cheapest cities in the US. But Greensboro is cheaper. Housing costs here are more affordable than in most cities. It is also true with groceries, utilities, and even healthcare.
| Living Expenses | Albuquerque | Greensboro |
| Housing | 88 | 62.2 |
| Food & Groceries | 96 | 95.8 |
| Health | 81.1 | 112.3 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 95.5 |
| Transportation | 89.4 | 75.3 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
Housing and rent are cheap in Albuquerque. But housing and rent in Greensboro are way more affordable.
I initially thought that Albuquerque had the cheapest housing and rental costs all over the US. But here comes Greensboro, which is even more affordable at 37.8% lower than the national average.
On the other hand, Albuquerque is only 12% cheaper than the US national average.
Both are cheap. But you can never ignore the housing costs in Greensboro.
But before I forget, let me remind you of property taxes. Housing and rental costs may be cheap in Greensboro. But the property taxes you have to pay makes up for the affordable price you paid.
Please consider that as a significant consideration.
Utility Costs
In this aspect, Greensboro is still more affordable than Albuquerque.
If you compare utility costs in Albuquerque with the national average, it is about 2.8% lower. On the other hand, Greensboro is 4.5% cheaper than the national average.
These numbers make Greensboro a lot more affordable than Albuquerque in utility costs.
Utility costs cover your electricity, heating, and garbage disposal use. It also covers your expenses for your internet connection and the like.
The difference between the two cities in utility costs is not that much. It would all have to depend on your usage.
But overall, Greensboro has cheaper utility costs.
Food and Groceries
Greensboro is consistent.
Like the other aspects of the budget, food and groceries are cheaper in Greensboro than in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque is 4% lower than the national average in food and groceries. It is interesting to note that Greensboro is 4.2% lower than the national average.
It is safe to say that Greensboro is cheaper than Albuquerque in terms of food and groceries. But you may have already noticed the difference between the two numbers is not that significant.
A mere 0.2% difference is only noticeable in the long run and when accumulated. But if you look at it closely, 0.2% is not that much.
Like your utility costs, this part of the budget depends on how much you consume monthly.
Transportation Costs
The cost of transportation in Albuquerque is higher than in Greensboro.
Both cities sit below the national average in terms of transportation costs.
Albuquerque is 10.6% lower than the national average. On the other hand, Greensboro is 14.7% lower than the national average, making it a more affordable city.
If you commute your way to work every day, this part of the budget should be necessary.
Healthcare
Healthcare is the only part of your budget pie, whereas Greensboro is the more expensive city.
The cost of healthcare is lower than the national average in Albuquerque. The cost of healthcare is higher than the national average in Greensboro.
Albuquerque has cheaper medicines. The city also has more affordable professional fees. Overall, healthcare costs in Albuquerque are 18.9% lower than the national average. In Greensboro, healthcare costs are higher than the national average by 12.3%.
Remember that healthcare is an integral part of your budget. Do not take this for granted.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Greensboro?
In terms of land area, Albuquerque is bigger than Greensboro. Albuquerque has a land area of 187.2 square miles. The land area of Greensboro is 126.5 square miles.
Not only is Albuquerque larger in land area.
It is also more populated than Greensboro.
In 2021, the population of Greensboro was 301,000. In Albuquerque, the number of people by the end of 2021 was 562,000.
In terms of population density, Albuquerque is also denser than Greensboro.
The latest numbers show that Albuquerque has a population density of 3,002 per square mile. On the other hand, Greensboro has a population density of 2,350 per square mile.
Is Albuquerque safer than Greensboro?
Albuquerque has a rising concern when it comes to keeping its people safe. The crime rates in Albuquerque are higher. Comparing the two, you will be safer in Greensboro than in Albuquerque.
Let us first talk about the crime index.
Albuquerque’s crime index is much higher than Greensboro’s.
Chula Vista is at 56.64, while in Albuquerque, it is at 70.66.
Now, what do these numbers mean?
These numbers tell us that you would be much safer in Greensboro than in Albuquerque.
Most of the time, crimes in Greensboro are moderate.
For example, crimes related to drugs are at 53% in Greensboro. In Albuquerque, it is at 85.16%
Crimes like vandalism and theft are at 48.15%%. In Albuquerque, the same type of crime is at 85.05%.
And this is the same for most types of crimes. Greensboro has lower numbers compared to Albuquerque.
Suffice to say, Greensboro is safer than Albuquerque.
But then again, safety all boils down to how you behave.
Do you often go to shadowy and shady neighborhoods? Because if you do, it seems like you are inviting trouble to come to join you.
Whether in Greensboro or Albuquerque, you will always get into trouble if you do not practice the usual precautions.
Is Greensboro better than Albuquerque?
Albuquerque is better than Greensboro. Both cities are cheap, and both struggle with their unemployment rate. But the more glaring factor is the property tax. Greensboro has the most expensive property tax in all of North Carolina. As such, Albuquerque is better.
Choosing between the two cities is not easy.
If you consider the cost of living, the crimes, and all the other aspects, it appears that both cities are at par with each other.
But at the end of it all, the property tax cost broke the deal. And this is an obvious and intelligent choice.
You may pay less when you buy your house in Greensboro. But the property tax that you pay moving forward is much higher than the rest of North Carolina.
Yes, Albuquerque is more expensive than Greensboro. But the difference is not that much. Besides, Albuquerque is still cheap compared to the national average.
Also, Albuquerque has high crime rates. But it all depends on which part of the city you live in. If you are in a neighborhood outside the city center, crimes should never be a problem in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque is more balanced compared to Greensboro. And that makes Albuquerque a better choice any time of the day.
How about you?
Which city would you choose?
Tell me.
