Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Chattanooga, TN
🏆 Chattanooga leads 10 of 19 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Chattanooga
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($141,900 vs $230,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Chattanooga by $7,211/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.1%)
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.1%)
Households earn $7,211 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$89k less
$141,900 vs $230,500
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.5°F
Chattanooga
Median Income
$7,211
$57,703 vs $50,492/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Chattanooga, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $230,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,066 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $57,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 217⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 34.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Hamilton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 51.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 55.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 181,288 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Chattanooga's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 10 of 19 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 9 and Chattanooga 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Chattanooga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $230,500 median home), income ($50,492 vs $57,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Chattanooga, TN are about 216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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