Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Atlanta, GA
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Atlanta
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($242,300 vs $395,600)
52% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $467/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,512)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $29,857/yr
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $29,857 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
52% lower
406.1 vs 840.6 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$153k less
$242,300 vs $395,600
Atlanta
Median Income
$29,857
$77,655 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $395,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,512⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $77,655 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A (120) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 57.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Atlanta Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 53.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 494,838 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 33.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 45.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 17.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Atlanta's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and Atlanta wins 10. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Atlanta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $395,600 median home), income ($47,798 vs $77,655), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Atlanta, GA are about 62 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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