Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$50,492 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 7.5%)
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Income
$1,595
$50,492 vs $48,897/yr
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$13k less
$141,900 vs $155,200
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $155,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 25.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 93.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 9 and Macon-Bibb County wins 11. 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $155,200 median home), income ($50,492 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.