Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($155,200 vs $242,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($967 vs $1,045)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
73% lower
406.1 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Income
$1,099
$48,897 vs $47,798/yr
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$87k less
$155,200 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $48,897 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 156,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $155,200 median home), income ($47,798 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 81 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.