Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) vs Columbia: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA and Columbia, MO, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 126,672 | 126,172 |
| Median household income | $47,798 | $60,455 |
| Median home value | $242,300 | $248,600 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,045 | $997 |
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 Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA and Columbia, MO comes down to what you value most. Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) has the lower median home value, and Columbia has the lower median rent.
Columbia 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 Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) or Columbia?
- By median home value, Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) is the cheaper of the two ($242,300 vs $248,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) or Columbia?
- Median household income is $47,798 in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) versus $60,455 in Columbia, per the US Census Bureau.
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