Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Rent averages $569/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,614)
29% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Homes cost $83k less ($242,300 vs $324,800)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $16,246/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Households earn $16,246 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 55°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
29% lower
406.1 vs 575.8 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$83k less
$242,300 vs $324,800
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$16,246
$64,044 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 14 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $324,800 median home), income ($47,798 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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