Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
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 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Yuma by $11,514/yr
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($186,500 vs $242,300)
Households earn $11,514 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
4% lower
406.1 vs 423.6 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Yuma
Median Income
$11,514
$59,312 vs $47,798/yr
Yuma
Median Home Value
$56k less
$186,500 vs $242,300
Yuma
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 9 and Yuma wins 14. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $186,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Yuma, AZ are about 1,796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.