Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Chandler, AZ
🏆 Chandler leads 16 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Chandler
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($242,300 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $630/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,675)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chandler
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $51,576/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.8%)
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $51,576 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$182k less
$242,300 vs $423,900
Chandler
Median Income
$51,576
$99,374 vs $47,798/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
67% lower
133.4 vs 406.1 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Chandler, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 101.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $423,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,675⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $99,374 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 35 ✓ 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 | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 8.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 275,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Chandler's 101.4 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 16 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 7 and Chandler wins 16. 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 Chandler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $423,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $99,374), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Chandler, AZ are about 1,634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.