Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Homes cost $801k less ($479,400 vs $1,280,300)
75% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $448/mo less ($1,619 vs $2,067)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Households earn $18,208 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$18,208
$122,924 vs $104,716/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
75% lower
160.1 vs 638.8 per 100k
Roswell
Median Home Value
$801k less
$479,400 vs $1,280,300
Roswell
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Roswell
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $479,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 63.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 8 and Roswell wins 15. 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 Berkeley to Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $479,400 median home), income ($104,716 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Roswell, GA are about 2,124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.