Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Columbia
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $6,297/yr
Columbia, SC
Pros
Households earn $6,297 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Homes cost $16k less ($226,200 vs $242,300)
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
47% lower
406.1 vs 769.9 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Columbia
Median Income
$6,297
$54,095 vs $47,798/yr
Columbia
Median Home Value
$16k less
$226,200 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,105 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $54,095 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 12.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 48.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 136,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 17.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Columbia wins 12. 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 Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $226,200 median home), income ($47,798 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Columbia, SC are about 141 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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