Athens-Clarke County and Lafayette-West Lafayette receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County | Lafayette-West Lafayette | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 220,197 | 226,805 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,608 | $62,011 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,279 | $33,768 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 215/sq mi | 138/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $310,200 | $226,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,201 | $1,107 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.7% | 58.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 5.0% | 2.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.2% | 36.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.6% | 17.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 924 | 1,868 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.2 | 8.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -40.5% | -50.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.0" | 37.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 73 mi | 65 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 20.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.6 | 30.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Athens-Clarke County
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Lafayette-West Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Athens-Clarke County, GA Metro Area · Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology