Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($242,300 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $574/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $75,126/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.3%)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $75,126 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$237k less
$242,300 vs $479,400
Roswell
Median Income
$75,126
$122,924 vs $47,798/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
61% lower
160.1 vs 406.1 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Roswell wins 12. 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $479,400 median home), income ($47,798 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Roswell, GA are about 57 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.