Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $25,173 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($155,200 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($967 vs $1,399)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $25,173/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$25,173
$74,070 vs $48,897/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
51% lower
733.2 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Charlotte
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$158k less
$155,200 vs $312,800
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 11 and Macon-Bibb County wins 12. 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 Charlotte to Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $155,200 median home), income ($74,070 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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