Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Atlanta leads 13 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Eugene
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $16,174 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Eugene, OR
Pros
62% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $243/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,512)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $16,174/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.8%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$16,174
$77,655 vs $61,481/yr
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$10k less
$395,600 vs $406,000
Atlanta
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Atlanta
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.0°F
Eugene
Violent Crime
62% lower
317.9 vs 840.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $406,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 45.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 176,755 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 13 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 13 and Eugene wins 10. 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $406,000 median home), income ($77,655 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Eugene, OR are about 2,176 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.