Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Raleigh leads 12 of 22 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
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.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $90/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,461)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than South Fulton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($242,200 vs $347,000)
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.5%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$1,143
$78,631 vs $77,488/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Violent Crime
4% lower
470.5 vs 488.8 per 100k
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$105k less
$242,200 vs $347,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 12 of 22 categories. Raleigh wins 12 and South Fulton wins 10. 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 Raleigh to South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $242,200 median home), income ($78,631 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and South Fulton, GA are about 370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.