Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 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
Population
126,672
Richmond
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ 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 $66k less ($242,300 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,227)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $11,808/yr
Richmond, VA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Households earn $11,808 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$66k less
$242,300 vs $308,300
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Median Income
$11,808
$59,606 vs $47,798/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
17% lower
336.9 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 43.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 5% 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 $308,300 median home), income ($47,798 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Richmond, VA are about 413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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