Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 16 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Roswell
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
92,770 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($393,700 vs $479,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Median income trails Roswell by $13,656/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Roswell, GA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $289/mo less ($1,619 vs $1,908)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,656 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Home Value
$86k less
$393,700 vs $479,400
Roswell
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$13,656
$122,924 vs $109,268/yr
Roswell
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Roswell
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 45 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 42 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 49 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 92,770 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Roswell leads 16 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 4 and Roswell wins 16. 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 Germantown to Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $479,400 median home), income ($109,268 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Roswell, GA are about 529 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.