Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Lubbock leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Lubbock
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
258,190
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $18,921 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($181,600 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,512)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $18,921/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$18,921
$77,655 vs $58,734/yr
Lubbock
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Violent Crime
2% lower
821.0 vs 840.6 per 100k
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$214k less
$181,600 vs $395,600
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,093 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 258,190 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 9 and Lubbock 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $181,600 median home), income ($77,655 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Lubbock, TX are about 1,003 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.