Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,153)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $12,389/yr
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($171,800 vs $242,300)
Households earn $12,389 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
5% lower
406.1 vs 427.2 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$12,389
$60,187 vs $47,798/yr
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$71k less
$171,800 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 14 and Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $171,800 median home), income ($47,798 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 486 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Athens-Clarke County, GA vs South Fulton, GA
Pittsburgh, PA vs Allentown, PA
Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Sandy Springs, GA
Pittsburgh, PA vs Erie, PA
Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Savannah, GA
Pittsburgh, PA vs Reading, PA
Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pittsburgh, PA vs Philadelphia, PA