Athens-Clarke County vs Gainesville
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia versus Gainesville, Georgia: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Athens-Clarke County and Gainesville score about the same overall (47 vs 49 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Athens-Clarke County | Gainesville |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $48k | $64k |
| Cost of Living | $50k | $54k |
| Home Value | $242k | $296k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.95% | 0.88% |
| Income Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Sales Tax | 7.38% | 7.38% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.73% | 11.99% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | 4.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 44°F | 43°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 79°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0 in | 52.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6 in | 1.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 260 days | 260 days |
| Summer Humidity | 69°F | 69°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 33.5 | 51.3 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 71.9 | 78.8 |
| Violent Crime | 2051/100k | 1154/100k |
| Property Crime | 2926/100k | 1350/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 42,780 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 32.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.57 | 0.60 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | D+43 | R+44 |
| White (%) | 54.7% | 41.0% |
| Black (%) | 26.4% | 15.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 11.1% | 36.4% |
| Asian (%) | 4.1% | 3.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.7% | 3.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 9.9/20 | 8.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 63 mi | 57 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.8% | 90.5% |
| Amenities Nearby | 30.00 | 22.91 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Athens-Clarke County or Gainesville more affordable?
- Athens-Clarke County has the lower cost of living: its index is $50k, compared with Athens-Clarke County's $50k and Gainesville's $54k. Median rent is $1k in Athens-Clarke County versus $1k in Gainesville.
- Is Athens-Clarke County or Gainesville safer?
- Gainesville has the lower violent crime rate. Athens-Clarke County reports 2051/100k and Gainesville reports 1154/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Athens-Clarke County or Gainesville?
- The median home value is $242k in Athens-Clarke County and $296k in Gainesville, so homes are more affordable in Athens-Clarke County.