Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Midland by $12,793/yr
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Midland, TX
Pros
57% less violent crime than Atlanta
Homes cost $115k less ($280,700 vs $395,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $12,793 more per year on average
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$12,793
$90,448 vs $77,655/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
57% lower
364.9 vs 840.6 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$115k less
$280,700 vs $395,600
Midland
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 9 and Midland 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $280,700 median home), income ($77,655 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Midland, TX are about 1,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.