Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Mesa
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ 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 $85k less ($242,300 vs $327,700)
16% less violent crime than Mesa
Rent averages $307/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,352)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $25,968/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $25,968 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
16% lower
406.1 vs 482.7 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$85k less
$242,300 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$25,968
$73,766 vs $47,798/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 8 and Mesa wins 15. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $327,700 median home), income ($47,798 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Mesa, AZ are about 1,625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.