Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 13 of 22 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,554
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $729k less ($155,200 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $882/mo less ($967 vs $1,849)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
22% less violent crime than Oakland
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $45,492/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.8%)
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,492 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Violent Crime
22% lower
1497.8 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$729k less
$155,200 vs $883,800
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
21.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$45,492
$94,389 vs $48,897/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 13 of 22 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 13 and Oakland wins 9. 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 Macon-Bibb County to Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $883,800 median home), income ($48,897 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Oakland, CA are about 2,184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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