Uprootmap
Gainesville vs Athens
Gainesville and Athens
Photo: Harrison Keely / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Athens are under the US rate in this release, 5.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Gainesville to Athens
In 2022-2023, 147 households filed a move from Gainesville to Athens (about 244 people, average adjusted gross income $45,000). 85 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,318 in Gainesville and $1,297 in Athens. Gainesville has a state tax on wages. Athens has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Athens is 80% of the national level for the same work, against 88% in Gainesville.
Athens averages 210 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 38°F. Gainesville is 211 sunny days, 89°F in July, 36°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Athens and 28 in Gainesville.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 147 households moved Gainesville → Athens (about 244 people, average AGI $45,000). 85 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Gainesville and Athens changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 52 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,550–$2,950
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$1,950
- Rent a truck
- $350–$650
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Dig into Athens
Questions
Is Athens cheaper than Gainesville after tax and rent?
Yes. Athens leaves about $53 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,318 in Gainesville and $1,297 in Athens.
Does Athens have state income tax?
Athens is in Georgia, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Gainesville to Athens?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.