Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 South Fulton leads 14 of 23 categories
Palmdale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than South Fulton
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($242,200 vs $397,500)
15% less violent crime than Palmdale
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,625)
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Income
$926
$78,414 vs $77,488/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 90.1°F
South Fulton
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Violent Crime
15% lower
470.5 vs 551.0 per 100k
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$155k less
$242,200 vs $397,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Fulton leads 14 of 23 categories. Palmdale wins 9 and South Fulton wins 14. 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 Palmdale to South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $242,200 median home), income ($78,414 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and South Fulton, GA are about 1,910 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.