Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe 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 ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ 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 $140k less ($242,300 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $427/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,472)
14% less violent crime than Tempe
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $24,224/yr
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $24,224 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
14% lower
406.1 vs 470.3 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$140k less
$242,300 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$24,224
$72,022 vs $47,798/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 29.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $382,100 median home), income ($47,798 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.