Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
14
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($167,900 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $784/mo less ($886 vs $1,670)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $26,408/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Households earn $26,408 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)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$388k less
$167,900 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$26,408
$93,303 vs $66,895/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
47% lower
139.2 vs 261.5 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $556,300 median home), income ($66,895 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.