Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ 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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($383,000 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $206/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $14,277/yr
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
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%)
Households earn $14,277 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$173k less
$383,000 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$14,277
$93,303 vs $79,026/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
81% lower
139.2 vs 715.6 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $556,300 median home), income ($79,026 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Sandy Springs, GA are about 1,181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.