Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Carlsbad 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
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $828k less ($242,300 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1432/mo less ($1,045 vs $2,477)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $86,341/yr
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $86,341 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$828k less
$242,300 vs $1,070,500
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 74.2°F
Carlsbad
Median Income
$86,341
$134,139 vs $47,798/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
51% lower
199.1 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $134,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 95.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 114,745 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 9 and Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Carlsbad, CA are about 1,945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.