Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Hoover leads 20 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
South Fulton
Georgia
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
83% less violent crime than South Fulton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $24,277 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($242,200 vs $366,200)
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hoover by $24,277/yr
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Hoover
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$24,277
$101,765 vs $77,488/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
83% lower
78.0 vs 470.5 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$124k less
$242,200 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 107,865 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 69.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 20 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 20 and South Fulton wins 3. 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 Hoover to South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $242,200 median home), income ($101,765 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and South Fulton, GA are about 129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.