Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 22 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ 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 $173k less ($242,300 vs $415,300)
62% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $444/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,489)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $31,287/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $31,287 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
62% lower
406.1 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$173k less
$242,300 vs $415,300
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$31,287
$79,085 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 22 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and Tacoma wins 9. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $415,300 median home), income ($47,798 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Tacoma, WA are about 2,218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.