Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($141,900 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $553/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,576)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 23.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $20,875/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 7.5%)
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,875 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$227k less
$141,900 vs $368,800
Lancaster
Median Income
$20,875
$71,367 vs $50,492/yr
Lancaster
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.3% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 12 and Lancaster wins 8. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $368,800 median home), income ($50,492 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Lancaster, CA are about 2,058 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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