Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Athens-Clarke County, GA
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 12 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $58,216 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $311k less ($242,300 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $661/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,706)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $58,216/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$58,216
$106,014 vs $47,798/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
30% lower
285.6 vs 406.1 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$311k less
$242,300 vs $553,000
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Athens-Clarke County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $242,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,045 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $47,798 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 10.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 48.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 89.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Clarke County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 49.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 126,672 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 28.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Athens-Clarke County's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 12 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 11 and Athens-Clarke 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 Arvada to Athens-Clarke County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $242,300 median home), income ($106,014 vs $47,798), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Athens-Clarke County, GA are about 1,267 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.