Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 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
New Orleans
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
72% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Homes cost $39k less ($242,300 vs $281,500)
Rent averages $117/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,162)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails New Orleans by $3,318/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Households earn $3,318 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 55°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
72% lower
406.1 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$39k less
$242,300 vs $281,500
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
New Orleans
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Income
$3,318
$51,116 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $51,116 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 88.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 49.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and New Orleans wins 10. 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 New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $281,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and New Orleans, LA are about 469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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