Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 15 of 22 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
St. Petersburg
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343 ✓ 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 $134k less ($155,200 vs $289,000)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($967 vs $1,410)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $21,436/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 4.6%)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
59% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $21,436 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$134k less
$155,200 vs $289,000
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 89.6°F
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$21,436
$70,333 vs $48,897/yr
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
59% lower
619.6 vs 1497.8 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 15 of 22 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 7 and St. Petersburg wins 15. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $289,000 median home), income ($48,897 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and St. Petersburg, FL are about 354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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