Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 13 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $453k less ($395,600 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $636/mo less ($1,512 vs $2,148)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $31,680/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 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Atlanta
Households earn $31,680 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$453k less
$395,600 vs $848,200
Atlanta
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$31,680
$109,335 vs $77,655/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
73% lower
226.1 vs 840.6 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 13 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 10 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $848,200 median home), income ($77,655 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Orange, CA are about 1,912 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.