Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Buckeye, AZ
🏆 Buckeye 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
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Rent averages $552/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,597)
Homes cost $99k less ($242,300 vs $341,700)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $46,390/yr
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $46,390 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 55°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$99k less
$242,300 vs $341,700
Buckeye
Median Income
$46,390
$94,188 vs $47,798/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
59% lower
166.8 vs 406.1 per 100k
Buckeye
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Buckeye, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $341,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $94,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 22.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 95,042 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Buckeye's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 9 and Buckeye 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 Buckeye or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $341,700 median home), income ($47,798 vs $94,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Buckeye, AZ are about 1,677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.