Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Rent averages $378/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,423)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Homes cost $17k less ($242,300 vs $259,500)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $28,888/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.1%)
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $28,888 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
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
Median Home Value
$17k less
$242,300 vs $259,500
Irving
Median Income
$28,888
$76,686 vs $47,798/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
32% lower
275.4 vs 406.1 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Irving, 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 | $259,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Irving wins 12. 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $259,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Irving, TX are about 787 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.