Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 13 of 21 categories
Downey
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,339 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $524k less ($155,200 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $847/mo less ($967 vs $1,814)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $35,339/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 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$35,339
$84,236 vs $48,897/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
69% lower
460.5 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$524k less
$155,200 vs $679,000
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 25.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 156,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 13 of 21 categories. Downey wins 8 and Macon-Bibb County 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 Downey to Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $155,200 median home), income ($84,236 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 1,979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.