Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 22 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Independence by $9,617/yr
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($150,800 vs $242,300)
Households earn $9,617 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
29% lower
406.1 vs 571.2 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Independence
Median Income
$9,617
$57,415 vs $47,798/yr
Independence
Median Home Value
$92k less
$150,800 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $57,415 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 22 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and Independence wins 9. 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $150,800 median home), income ($47,798 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Independence, MO are about 705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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