Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 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
Santa Clara
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $1298k less ($141,900 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1818/mo less ($1,023 vs $2,841)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $114,860/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $114,860 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$1298k less
$141,900 vs $1,440,200
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$114,860
$165,352 vs $50,492/yr
Santa Clara
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($50,492 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Santa Clara, CA are about 2,248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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