City comparison
No. Chandler's crime index is 61 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 38 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,902 in Chandler.
Safety is where Atlanta and Chandler split most clearly. Chandler scores 136 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 $1,902 in Chandler.
Chandler 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 Chandler is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Chandler has rougher pockets and Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Atlanta and Chandler are 1,577 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,902 a month in Chandler, up $191 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $108,095 in Chandler, up $22,443 (26%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 61 in Chandler, down 136 points (69%).
The move
Chandler and Atlanta are 1,577 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,902 a month in Chandler to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $191 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $108,095 in Chandler to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $22,443 (21%).
The crime index goes from 61 in Chandler to 197 in Atlanta, up 136 points (223%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Chandler, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Chandler? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 10% cheaper than Chandler
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Chandler
$1,902/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,902 in Chandler, so Atlanta is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,292, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Atlanta still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Chandler.
Planning to buy in Chandler? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Chandler's median income is 26% higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
$85,652
Chandler
Winner$108,095
Median household income is $108,095 in Chandler versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Chandler (about $22,443 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, Chandler 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
69% lower crime
Chandler's crime index is 69% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Chandler
Winner61 (100 = avg)
Chandler's crime index is 61 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% lower in Chandler. 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, Chandler 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
Chandler weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Chandler
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Chandler averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Chandler sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Chandler 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 10% 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 26% higher ($108,095), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 80°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Chandler is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 69% lower than Atlanta (61 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Chandler: Chandler scores 75/100 versus 39/100 in Atlanta, with typical rent at $1,902 versus $1,711. I would vet the exact ZIP in Atlanta before trading 36 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Chandler vs 39/100 in Atlanta), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $108,095 in Chandler versus $85,652 in Atlanta.
If safety drives your move, Chandler is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 39/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Atlanta, treat $1,711/month rent and $85,652 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Chandler?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Chandler when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Chandler, plus other cities in GA and AZ.
