Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Austin, TX
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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 $219k less ($242,300 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $504/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,549)
13% less violent crime than Austin
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $38,758/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $38,758 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
13% lower
406.1 vs 466.9 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$219k less
$242,300 vs $461,500
Austin
Median Income
$38,758
$86,556 vs $47,798/yr
Austin
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $461,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,549⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $86,556 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 22.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | AUSTIN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 958,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Austin's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 9 and Austin wins 14. 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 Austin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $461,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $86,556), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Austin, TX are about 878 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.