Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($141,900 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $51,273/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 3.9%)
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $51,273 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$224k less
$141,900 vs $366,200
Hoover
Median Income
$51,273
$101,765 vs $50,492/yr
Hoover
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.6 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 36 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 21 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 60 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Augusta-Richmond County wins 10 and Hoover 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $366,200 median home), income ($50,492 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Hoover, AL are about 273 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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