Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 13 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615
Santa Clarita
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
225,850 ✓ 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 $527k less ($141,900 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1292/mo less ($1,023 vs $2,315)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $65,694/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $65,694 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
$527k less
$141,900 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$65,694
$116,186 vs $50,492/yr
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Santa Clarita, 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 | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 44 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 13 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 7 and Santa Clarita wins 13. 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 Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $669,200 median home), income ($50,492 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,079 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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