Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Orange
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ 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 $606k less ($242,300 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1103/mo less ($1,045 vs $2,148)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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 Orange by $61,537/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,537 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$606k less
$242,300 vs $848,200
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$61,537
$109,335 vs $47,798/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
44% lower
226.1 vs 406.1 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 9 and Orange wins 14. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $848,200 median home), income ($47,798 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Orange, CA are about 1,969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.