Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Richmond, 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
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $470k less ($155,200 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $886/mo less ($967 vs $1,853)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $37,721/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
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,721 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Violent crime (923.1/100k) 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
Median Home Value
$470k less
$155,200 vs $624,800
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
22.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$37,721
$86,618 vs $48,897/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
38% lower
923.1 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Richmond, 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 | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 243⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Richmond'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 Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $624,800 median home), income ($48,897 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Richmond, CA are about 2,191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.