Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Centennial, CO
🏆 Centennial 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
Centennial
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($242,300 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $904/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,949)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $76,819/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.4%)
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $76,819 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$344k less
$242,300 vs $586,500
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 87.3°F
Centennial
Median Income
$76,819
$124,617 vs $47,798/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
57% lower
172.8 vs 406.1 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Centennial, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $586,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,949⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $124,617 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 21.2% ✓ 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 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 81 ✓ 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 | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 15.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 107,702 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 82.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Centennial's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 10 and Centennial 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 Centennial or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $586,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $124,617), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Centennial, CO are about 1,248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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