Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Boca Raton, FL
🏆 Boca Raton leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Boca Raton
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($242,300 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1125/mo less ($1,045 vs $2,170)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $47,772/yr
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $47,772 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 55°F
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$355k less
$242,300 vs $597,100
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Boca Raton
Median Income
$47,772
$95,570 vs $47,798/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
58% lower
171.0 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Boca Raton, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $597,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $2,170⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $95,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 18.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 96.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 65.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 97,980 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 47.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 17.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 25.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Boca Raton's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 10 and Boca Raton wins 13. 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 Boca Raton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $597,100 median home), income ($47,798 vs $95,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Boca Raton, FL are about 559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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