Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
15
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($316,600 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $18,593/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $18,593 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$240k less
$316,600 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$18,593
$93,303 vs $74,710/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
78% lower
139.2 vs 619.2 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Durham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Durham wins 8 and Sandy Springs wins 15. 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 Durham to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $556,300 median home), income ($74,710 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Sandy Springs, GA are about 340 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.