Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Riverside, 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
Riverside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ 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 $243k less ($242,300 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $666/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,711)
31% less violent crime than Riverside
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $35,650/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,650 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Athens-Clarke County
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
Violent Crime
31% lower
406.1 vs 589.7 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$243k less
$242,300 vs $485,500
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$35,650
$83,448 vs $47,798/yr
Riverside
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 14 and Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $485,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Riverside, CA are about 1,941 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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