Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 22 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Rent averages $95/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,140)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Waterbury by $3,653/yr
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($162,800 vs $242,300)
21% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Households earn $3,653 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.8% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Median Income
$3,653
$51,451 vs $47,798/yr
Waterbury
Violent Crime
21% lower
322.5 vs 406.1 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$80k less
$162,800 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $51,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ 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 | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 22 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 15 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $162,800 median home), income ($47,798 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Waterbury, CT are about 770 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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