Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 13 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
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
Households earn $10,332 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Redding, CA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Atlanta
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $234/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,512)
Homes cost $53k less ($343,000 vs $395,600)
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $10,332/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$10,332
$77,655 vs $67,323/yr
Redding
Violent Crime
23% lower
647.8 vs 840.6 per 100k
Redding
Median Home Value
$53k less
$343,000 vs $395,600
Redding
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 13 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 10 and Redding 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $343,000 median home), income ($77,655 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Redding, CA are about 2,124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.