Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Atlanta
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($242,200 vs $395,600)
44% less violent crime than Atlanta
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.9 on the COL index
South Fulton
Violent Crime
44% lower
470.5 vs 840.6 per 100k
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$153k less
$242,200 vs $395,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Atlanta wins 11 and South Fulton wins 11. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $242,200 median home), income ($77,655 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and South Fulton, GA are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.