Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 South Fulton leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
South Fulton
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $31,780 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than South Fulton
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($242,200 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $447/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,908)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $31,780/yr
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$31,780
$109,268 vs $77,488/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$152k less
$242,200 vs $393,700
South Fulton
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | South Fulton, 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 | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 107,865 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, South Fulton leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 8 and South Fulton 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 Germantown to South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $242,200 median home), income ($109,268 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and South Fulton, GA are about 558 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.