Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Atlanta leads 13 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Stockton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Stockton
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,043 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Cons
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 rents — median is $1,512/mo
Stockton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $95/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,512)
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$6,043
$77,655 vs $71,612/yr
Atlanta
Violent Crime
27% lower
840.6 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Atlanta
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Home Value
$14k less
$382,000 vs $395,600
Stockton
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 320,030 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 13 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 13 and Stockton wins 10. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $382,000 median home), income ($77,655 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Stockton, CA are about 2,072 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.