Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Cambridge
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $755k less ($242,300 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1583/mo less ($1,045 vs $2,628)
7% less violent crime than Cambridge
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $73,741/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.3%)
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $73,741 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
7% lower
406.1 vs 436.7 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$755k less
$242,300 vs $997,600
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.7°F
Cambridge
Median Income
$73,741
$121,539 vs $47,798/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 117,962 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 30.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 14 and Cambridge 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 Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $997,600 median home), income ($47,798 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Cambridge, MA are about 883 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.