Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 14 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
14
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($321,800 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $59,923/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.3%)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $59,923 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Home Value
$158k less
$321,800 vs $479,400
Fresno
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 89.4°F
Roswell
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$59,923
$122,924 vs $63,001/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
78% lower
160.1 vs 735.5 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 14 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 9 and Roswell wins 14. 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 Fresno to Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $479,400 median home), income ($63,001 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Roswell, GA are about 1,993 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.