Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Compton, CA
🏆 Atlanta leads 16 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Compton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $94k less ($395,600 vs $489,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.8%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Households earn $7,927 more per year on average
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
Compton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$7,927
$77,655 vs $69,728/yr
Atlanta
Violent Crime
34% lower
840.6 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$94k less
$395,600 vs $489,400
Atlanta
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Atlanta
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Compton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $489,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $69,728 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 3.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer | 335⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Compton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 94,822 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Compton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 16 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 16 and Compton 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 Atlanta to Compton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $489,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $69,728), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Compton, CA are about 1,931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.