Home to four historic districts containing more than 700 preserved buildings, Albany sits at the confluence of the Calapooia and Willamette rivers in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The city's architectural heritage includes stunning examples of Federal, Gothic Revival, Italianate, and Colonial Revival homes dating from 1840 to 1920, earning Albany recognition from This Old House as one of the nation's best places to buy a historic home.

Renters in Albany enjoy average monthly rates of $1,230 for one-bedroom apartments and $1,438 for two-bedroom homes, slightly below Oregon's state average. The Central Albany Revitalization Area has transformed downtown into a walkable district featuring local boutiques and the historic Albany Civic Theater. North Albany's residential areas offer quick access to both Albany and Corvallis, while the neighborhoods surrounding Timber Linn Memorial Park connect residents to outdoor recreation.

Interstate 5 runs along the city's eastern edge, and the historic 1909 train station provides daily Amtrak service. Albany's economy centers around manufacturing, health care, and retail, with major employers including ATI Specialty Alloys and Components and Oregon Freeze Dry. The city maintains an extensive parks system, featuring the oak-lined Simpson Park Trail along the Willamette River and the popular Periwinkle Creek Bike Path. Community events bring residents together throughout the year, including the Northwest Art and Air Festival and the River Rhythms summer concert series at Monteith Riverpark.