Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $14,541 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 42°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
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
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($204,800 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $498/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,512)
16% less violent crime than Atlanta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $14,541/yr
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$14,541
$77,655 vs $63,114/yr
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Violent Crime
16% lower
707.4 vs 840.6 per 100k
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$191k less
$204,800 vs $395,600
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $63,114 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 15.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 60.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 10 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 13. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $204,800 median home), income ($77,655 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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