Macon vs Temple
The short version
- Macon is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 3% lower than in the Temple area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $174,500 in Macon and $239,000 in Temple.
- Households earn more in Temple ($68,204 vs $51,234 median).
- Temple has more scorching days: 118 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 85.
- Temple is growing faster: +19.7% since 2020 vs +0.1%.
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; Georgia's top rate is 5.19%.
Side by side
| Macon, GA | Temple, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 157,556 | 98,412 |
| Growth since 2020 | +0.1% | +19.7% |
| People per square mile | 632 | 1,347 |
| Median age | 36.8 | 33.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26% | 31% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $51,234 | $68,204 |
| Median home value | $174,500 | $239,000 |
| Home value to income | 3.4× | 3.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,066 | $1,231 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 88.5 | 91.1 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 58.9 | 77.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $66,400 | $68,300 |
| Homeowners | 51% | 52% |
| Top state income tax | 5.19% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 7.56% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 22.2 | 21.0 |
| Work from home | 10% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 8.1% | 6.6% |
| Poverty rate | 24.7% | 16% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 59° / 36° | 60° / 36° |
| July high / low | 94° / 72° | 95° / 72° |
| Precipitation per year | 47 in | 37 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 85 | 118 |
| Nights below freezing | 44 | 33 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Low | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 78.5 | 91.1 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 43% | 66% |
| Home prices, past year | +2.7% | +1.7% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +53% | +39.3% |
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: Macon: March to May and October to November. Temple: March to April and October to November.
Full monthly tables: Macon weather by month and Temple weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $66,400 in Macon and $68,300 in Temple. Moving from Macon to Temple, you would need about $77,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.