Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa 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
Santa Rosa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ 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 $419k less ($242,300 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $979/mo less ($1,045 vs $2,024)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $44,806/yr
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,806 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$419k less
$242,300 vs $661,700
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$44,806
$92,604 vs $47,798/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
16% lower
342.6 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $661,700 median home), income ($47,798 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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