Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838
Tucson
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $25,606 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($218,200 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $521/mo less ($991 vs $1,512)
30% less violent crime than Atlanta
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $25,606/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$25,606
$77,655 vs $52,049/yr
Atlanta
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
30% lower
588.8 vs 840.6 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$177k less
$218,200 vs $395,600
Tucson
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 7 and Tucson wins 16. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $218,200 median home), income ($77,655 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Tucson, AZ are about 1,533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.