Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Austin, TX
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($395,600 vs $461,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Austin by $8,901/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.4%)
Austin, TX
Pros
44% less violent crime than Atlanta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $8,901 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 54°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$66k less
$395,600 vs $461,500
Austin
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$8,901
$86,556 vs $77,655/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
44% lower
466.9 vs 840.6 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $461,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,549⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $86,556 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 22.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | AUSTIN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 | 958,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Austin's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 8 and Austin wins 15. 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 Atlanta to Austin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $461,500 median home), income ($77,655 vs $86,556), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Austin, TX are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.