Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Augusta-Richmond County by $2,694/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($141,900 vs $242,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Households earn $2,694 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
Cons
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.3% unemployment
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Income
$2,694
$50,492 vs $47,798/yr
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$100k less
$141,900 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Augusta-Richmond County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $1,023 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $50,492 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 23.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Richmond County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 44.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 0.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 201,615 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Augusta-Richmond County's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 8 and Augusta-Richmond 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 Athens-Clarke County to Augusta-Richmond County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $141,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $50,492), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Augusta-Richmond County, GA are about 85 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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