Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Savannah
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6
Median Household Income
$54,748 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,216)
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
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Savannah
Cons
Median income trails Savannah by $6,950/yr
Savannah, GA
Pros
95% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $39k less ($203,300 vs $242,300)
Households earn $6,950 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 55°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.6 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Median Income
$6,950
$54,748 vs $47,798/yr
Savannah
Violent Crime
95% lower
20.3 vs 406.1 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$39k less
$203,300 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.6 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,216 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $54,748 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 8 and Savannah wins 13. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $203,300 median home), income ($47,798 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Savannah, GA are about 184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.