Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 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
Sparks
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($141,900 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,526)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $32,446/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $32,446 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$282k less
$141,900 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$32,446
$82,938 vs $50,492/yr
Sparks
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $423,500 median home), income ($50,492 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Sparks, NV are about 2,119 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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