Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 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
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Rent averages $416/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,461)
14% less violent crime than South Fulton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails South Fulton by $29,690/yr
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Households earn $29,690 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.4%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
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
Violent Crime
14% lower
406.1 vs 470.5 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Median Income
$29,690
$77,488 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $77,488 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 15 and South Fulton 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $242,200 median home), income ($47,798 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and South Fulton, GA are about 73 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.