Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Midland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ 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 $355/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,400)
Homes cost $38k less ($242,300 vs $280,700)
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
Median income trails Midland by $42,650/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $42,650 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 55°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$38k less
$242,300 vs $280,700
Midland
Median Income
$42,650
$90,448 vs $47,798/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
10% lower
364.9 vs 406.1 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 31.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 10 and Midland wins 13. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $280,700 median home), income ($47,798 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Midland, TX are about 1,093 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.