Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Roanoke
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Roanoke by $3,725/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($162,000 vs $242,300)
Rent averages $128/mo less ($917 vs $1,045)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Households earn $3,725 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
35% lower
406.1 vs 620.4 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Income
$3,725
$51,523 vs $47,798/yr
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$80k less
$162,000 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $51,523 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and Roanoke wins 10. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $162,000 median home), income ($47,798 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Roanoke, VA are about 299 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.