Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 14 of 20 categories
Fresno
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Savannah
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,253 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
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 7.2%)
Savannah, GA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Fresno
Homes cost $119k less ($203,300 vs $321,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.2%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fresno by $8,253/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$8,253
$63,001 vs $54,748/yr
Fresno
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 92.3°F
Savannah
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
97% lower
20.3 vs 735.5 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$119k less
$203,300 vs $321,800
Savannah
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 147,583 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Savannah leads 14 of 20 categories. Fresno wins 6 and Savannah 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $203,300 median home), income ($63,001 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Savannah, GA are about 2,210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.