Athens vs Miami
The short version
- Athens is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 18% lower than in the Miami area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $299,200 in Athens and $518,100 in Miami.
- Households earn more in Miami ($62,462 vs $52,974 median).
- Miami has the warmer winter: January highs of 74°F vs 55°F.
- Athens has more scorching days: 62 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 30.
- Miami is growing faster: +10.8% since 2020 vs +1%.
- Commutes are shorter in Athens (21 vs 27 minutes each way).
- Florida has no state income tax on wages; Georgia's top rate is 5.19%.
Side by side
| Athens, GA | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 128,612 | 489,812 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1% | +10.8% |
| People per square mile | 1,105 | 13,607 |
| Median age | 29.4 | 39.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47% | 37% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $52,974 | $62,462 |
| Median home value | $299,200 | $518,100 |
| Home value to income | 5.6× | 8.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,219 | $1,758 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 93.3 | 114.2 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 76.8 | 155.6 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $70,000 | $85,600 |
| Homeowners | 41% | 31% |
| Top state income tax | 5.19% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 7.56% | 6.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 20.6 | 27.3 |
| Work from home | 14% | 16% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 7% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Poverty rate | 26.5% | 19.4% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 55° / 34° | 74° / 61° |
| July high / low | 92° / 70° | 88° / 78° |
| Precipitation per year | 49 in | 57 in |
| Snowfall per year | 1 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 62 | 30 |
| Nights below freezing | 46 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Low | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 67.0 | 99.6 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 58% | 53% |
| Home prices, past year | +1% | +1.3% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +54.8% | +67.7% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Athens: March to May and September to October. Miami: November to April.
Full monthly tables: Athens weather by month and Miami weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $70,000 in Athens and $85,600 in Miami. Moving from Athens to Miami, you would need about $91,700 to match a $75,000 salary.
Moving between Athens and Miami
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Athens and Miami.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.