Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ 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 $298k less ($242,300 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $620/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,665)
59% less violent crime than Denver
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $38,055/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $38,055 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Athens-Clarke County
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
Violent Crime
59% lower
406.1 vs 993.0 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$298k less
$242,300 vs $540,400
Denver
Median Income
$38,055
$85,853 vs $47,798/yr
Denver
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Denver, 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 | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 12 and Denver wins 11. 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $540,400 median home), income ($47,798 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Denver, CO are about 1,252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.