Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Marcos, CA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 San Marcos leads 14 of 23 categories
San Marcos
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
South Fulton
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than South Fulton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $21,925 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than South Fulton
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $487k less ($242,200 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $603/mo less ($1,461 vs $2,064)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Marcos by $21,925/yr
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
San Marcos
Median Income
$21,925
$99,413 vs $77,488/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
53% lower
222.4 vs 470.5 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$487k less
$242,200 vs $728,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Marcos, CA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $728,800⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,064⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,413 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.5:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.5% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Marcos Unified | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,360 | 107,865 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.9% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Marcos's cost of living index is 111.5 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 14 of 23 categories. San Marcos wins 14 and South Fulton 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 San Marcos to South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($728,800 vs $242,200 median home), income ($99,413 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Marcos, CA and South Fulton, GA are about 1,873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.