All Over Albany

Safe as houses. In Colonie.

Colonie and Albany are literally right next door, but their crime rankings almost couldn't be farther apart.

Colonie tops the list of lowest-crime cities in this year's rankings compiled by CQ Press. Colonie had only 54 incidences of violent crime in 2008, the lowest total of the 393 cities in the rankings. It ranked #10 last year.

As far as we can tell, Albany is the only other Capital Region city on the list -- it ranked #300 (#263 last year).

Here's more about the methodology used to compile the list. By CQ's own admission, the ranking has its critics. And here's what the FBI says about these sorts of rankings:

Each year when Crime in the United States is published, some entities use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state, or region. Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents. Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction.

The FBI does compile annual crime statistics -- here's the 2008 data for crimes in New York State, sorted by city.

[via @albcolchamber]