City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Atlanta and Anaheim split most clearly. Anaheim scores 54 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Anaheim is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Anaheim is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Atlanta at $1,711 average has pockets that run $1,511 and others at $2,111: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Atlanta and Anaheim are 1,916 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $464 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $9,575 (11%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 143 in Anaheim, down 54 points (27%).
The move
Anaheim and Atlanta are 1,916 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $464 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $9,575 (10%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 197 in Atlanta, up 54 points (38%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 21% cheaper than Anaheim
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Atlanta is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $464/month back in your pocket ($5,568/year). Over five years that's $27,840 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Atlanta is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Anaheim's median income is 11% higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
$85,652
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Anaheim (about $9,575 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. Atlanta can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 27% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Atlanta
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 11% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Atlanta (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Anaheim leads on safety (49/100 vs 39/100 in Atlanta). Typical rent is $2,175 in Anaheim and $1,711 in Atlanta; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Anaheim still pays more locally ($95,227 median income vs $85,652), which can offset the lease if your field pays Anaheim rates.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Atlanta and 76°F in Anaheim.
Anaheim is ahead on safety (49/100 vs 39/100); Atlanta is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,711/month rent plus $85,652 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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