Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
80% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $29,649 more per year on average
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($155,200 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($967 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $29,649/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$29,649
$78,546 vs $48,897/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
80% lower
302.5 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$261k less
$155,200 vs $416,500
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 156,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 11 and Macon-Bibb County wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Ann Arbor to Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $155,200 median home), income ($78,546 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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