Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 18 of 22 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Paterson
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $347/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,392)
Homes cost $72k less ($242,300 vs $314,100)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Median income trails Paterson by $4,294/yr
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Households earn $4,294 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
59% lower
406.1 vs 978.6 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$72k less
$242,300 vs $314,100
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.5% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Income
$4,294
$52,092 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $52,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 18 of 22 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 18 and Paterson wins 4. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $314,100 median home), income ($47,798 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Paterson, NJ are about 697 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.