Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Baltimore, MD
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Median income trails Baltimore by $10,551/yr
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Households earn $10,551 more per year on average
Homes cost $39k less ($202,900 vs $242,300)
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
75% lower
406.1 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Baltimore
Median Income
$10,551
$58,349 vs $47,798/yr
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$39k less
$202,900 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Baltimore, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $202,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $58,349 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 13.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 423⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 43.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 19.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 584,548 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 36.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Baltimore's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 14 and Baltimore wins 9. 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 Baltimore or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $202,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $58,349), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Baltimore, MD are about 526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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