Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 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
Population
126,672
Eugene
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ 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 $164k less ($242,300 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,269)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.4%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Eugene by $13,683/yr
Eugene, OR
Pros
22% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Households earn $13,683 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$164k less
$242,300 vs $406,000
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.0°F
Eugene
Median Income
$13,683
$61,481 vs $47,798/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
22% lower
317.9 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $406,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,269 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $61,481 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 45.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Eugene's 103.8 (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 Eugene 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $406,000 median home), income ($47,798 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Eugene, OR are about 2,221 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.