Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 14 of 22 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Rancho Cucamonga
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ 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 $415k less ($242,300 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1139/mo less ($1,045 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
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 Rancho Cucamonga by $57,736/yr
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,736 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$415k less
$242,300 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$57,736
$105,534 vs $47,798/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
28% lower
293.7 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 14 of 22 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 8 and Rancho Cucamonga 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $657,400 median home), income ($47,798 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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