Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $321k less ($242,300 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $856/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $42,870/yr
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $42,870 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$321k less
$242,300 vs $563,200
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$42,870
$90,668 vs $47,798/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
17% lower
335.1 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 46.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 15 and Quincy wins 8. 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $563,200 median home), income ($47,798 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Quincy, MA are about 882 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.