Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 18 of 23 categories
Downey
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Downey
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $123k less ($556,300 vs $679,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.7%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$9,067
$93,303 vs $84,236/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
70% lower
139.2 vs 460.5 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Median Home Value
$123k less
$556,300 vs $679,000
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Sandy Springs
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $556,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,670⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 18 of 23 categories. Downey wins 5 and Sandy Springs wins 18. 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 Downey to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $556,300 median home), income ($84,236 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 1,926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.