Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 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
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ 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 $463k less ($242,300 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $772/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,817)
56% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $53,924/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $53,924 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
56% lower
406.1 vs 925.9 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$463k less
$242,300 vs $705,000
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$53,924
$101,722 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 41.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and Washington wins 10. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $705,000 median home), income ($47,798 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Washington, DC are about 492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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