Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Dallas
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Dallas
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,305)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $28k less ($242,300 vs $270,700)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Median income trails Dallas by $16,187/yr
Dallas, TX
Pros
Households earn $16,187 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
38% lower
406.1 vs 658.2 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$28k less
$242,300 vs $270,700
Dallas
Median Income
$16,187
$63,985 vs $47,798/yr
Dallas
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $270,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,305 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $63,985 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 36.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 41.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 11.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Dallas's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and Dallas wins 10. 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 Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $270,700 median home), income ($47,798 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Dallas, TX are about 777 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.