Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 16 of 22 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Springfield
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($198,500 vs $242,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
54% lower
406.1 vs 891.4 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.7% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$44k less
$198,500 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 16 of 22 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 16 and Springfield wins 6. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $198,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Springfield, MA are about 815 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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