Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Grand Rapids
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($141,900 vs $203,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 31°F
Rent averages $115/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,138)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Rapids
Cons
Median income trails Grand Rapids by $11,142/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.6%)
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $11,142 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$62k less
$141,900 vs $203,900
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.4°F
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$11,142
$61,634 vs $50,492/yr
Grand Rapids
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $203,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,138 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $61,634 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 39.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 198,096 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Grand Rapids wins 9. 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 Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $203,900 median home), income ($50,492 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Grand Rapids, MI are about 691 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Columbus, GA
Grand Rapids, MI vs Warren, MI
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Macon-Bibb County, GA
Grand Rapids, MI vs Sterling Heights, MI
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Savannah, GA
Grand Rapids, MI vs Ann Arbor, MI
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Athens-Clarke County, GA
Grand Rapids, MI vs Lansing, MI