Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($242,300 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $808/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,853)
56% less violent crime than Richmond
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $38,820/yr
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,820 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
56% lower
406.1 vs 923.1 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$383k less
$242,300 vs $624,800
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$38,820
$86,618 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 14 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $624,800 median home), income ($47,798 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Richmond, CA are about 2,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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