Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($242,300 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $816/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,861)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $50,081/yr
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Households earn $50,081 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$250k less
$242,300 vs $491,800
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$50,081
$97,879 vs $47,798/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
79% lower
85.0 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 14 and Norwalk wins 9. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $491,800 median home), income ($47,798 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Norwalk, CT are about 735 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.