Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Households earn $3,642 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($111,400 vs $242,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.4%)
Median income trails Athens-Clarke County by $3,642/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Income
$3,642
$47,798 vs $44,156/yr
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
30% lower
406.1 vs 582.3 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.5% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Home Value
$131k less
$111,400 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 19.3 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 | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ 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 | 10.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 15 and Rochester wins 8. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $111,400 median home), income ($47,798 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Rochester, NY are about 708 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.