Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 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
Fullerton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ 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 $549k less ($242,300 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $944/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,989)
11% less violent crime than Fullerton
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $51,481/yr
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,481 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
11% lower
406.1 vs 455.3 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$549k less
$242,300 vs $791,000
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.4°F
Fullerton
Median Income
$51,481
$99,279 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 44.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 12 and Fullerton 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $791,000 median home), income ($47,798 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Fullerton, CA are about 1,972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.