Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 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
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
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
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 47°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Households earn $4,029 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Vancouver, WA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Atlanta
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Atlanta
Median income trails Atlanta by $4,029/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$4,029
$77,655 vs $73,626/yr
Atlanta
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Violent Crime
31% lower
582.3 vs 840.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $403,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Vancouver, WA are about 2,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.