Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($395,600 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $841/mo less ($1,512 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $70,572/yr
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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $70,572 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Atlanta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$242k less
$395,600 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$70,572
$148,227 vs $77,655/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
84% lower
138.1 vs 840.6 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 9 and Highlands Ranch 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 Atlanta to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $637,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.