Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37 ✓ Safer
Population
107,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($251,300 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $373/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,670)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $21,567/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $21,567 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$305k less
$251,300 vs $556,300
Arlington
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.4°F
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$21,567
$93,303 vs $71,736/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
71% lower
139.2 vs 482.9 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Sandy Springs wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $556,300 median home), income ($71,736 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Sandy Springs, GA are about 741 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.