Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ 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 $563k less ($141,900 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $794/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,817)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $51,230/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 7.1%)
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $51,230 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.1%)
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$563k less
$141,900 vs $705,000
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$51,230
$101,722 vs $50,492/yr
Washington
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $705,000 median home), income ($50,492 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Washington, DC are about 475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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