Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($141,900 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $299/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,322)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Phoenix
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $21,600/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.2%)
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $21,600 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$198k less
$141,900 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Median Income
$21,600
$72,092 vs $50,492/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.3% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 8 and Phoenix wins 12. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $340,200 median home), income ($50,492 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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