Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
16
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $470k less ($86,200 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $840/mo less ($830 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $51,860/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $51,860 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 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)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$470k less
$86,200 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$51,860
$93,303 vs $41,443/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
90% lower
139.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton 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 Dayton to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $556,300 median home), income ($41,443 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Sandy Springs, GA are about 405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.