City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Austin and Atlanta are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,729 in Austin and $1,711 in Atlanta, and median household income lands at $93,658 versus $85,652. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Austin 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 Austin is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Austin and Atlanta are 818 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $18 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $8,006 (9%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 197 in Atlanta, up 35 points (22%).
The move
Atlanta and Austin are 818 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $18 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $93,658 in Austin, up $8,006 (9%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 162 in Austin, down 35 points (18%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 1% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,729 in Austin, so Atlanta is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $18, or $216 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Austin's median income is 9% higher than Atlanta
Austin
Winner$93,658
Atlanta
$85,652
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Austin (about $8,006 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
18% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 18% lower than Atlanta
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Austin. 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, Austin 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
Austin weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Atlanta averages around 61°F. Austin 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
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 9% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Atlanta (162 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.
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 1% 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.
Bottom line
Atlanta carries the heavier crime signal on this page (39/100 safety vs 45/100 in Austin). That 6-point spread matters more than the $18 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $85,652 in Atlanta — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick Austin when you want the stronger safety signal (45/100). Otherwise, Atlanta's case rests on a Atlanta ZIP you trust at $1,711 rent.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 61°F in Atlanta.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Atlanta, plus other cities in TX and GA.
