Santa Clara vs Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance): Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Santa Clara, CA and Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 128,058 | 126,672 |
| Median household income | $165,352 | $47,798 |
| Median home value | $1,440,200 | $242,300 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $2,841 | $1,045 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Santa Clara, CA and Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA comes down to what you value most. Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) has the lower median home value, and Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) has the lower median rent.
Santa Clara has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Santa Clara or Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance)?
- By median home value, Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) is the cheaper of the two ($242,300 vs $1,440,200). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Santa Clara or Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance)?
- Median household income is $165,352 in Santa Clara versus $47,798 in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), per the US Census Bureau.