Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 12 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
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.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $444k less ($112,600 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $798/mo less ($872 vs $1,670)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 52°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $46,568/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $46,568 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$444k less
$112,600 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$46,568
$93,303 vs $46,735/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
69% lower
139.2 vs 456.0 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 11 and Sandy Springs wins 12. 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 Brownsville to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $556,300 median home), income ($46,735 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Sandy Springs, GA are about 955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.