Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories
Chico
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Sandy Springs
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37 ✓ Safer
Population
107,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($427,600 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $310/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $27,371/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $27,371 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Home Value
$129k less
$427,600 vs $556,300
Chico
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 89.4°F
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$27,371
$93,303 vs $65,932/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
80% lower
139.2 vs 699.2 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 107,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories. Chico wins 7 and Sandy Springs wins 16. 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 Chico to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $556,300 median home), income ($65,932 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 2,094 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.