Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 17 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
17
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($358,400 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $280/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,670)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $33,364/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Households earn $33,364 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$198k less
$358,400 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$33,364
$93,303 vs $59,939/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
66% lower
139.2 vs 408.7 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 17 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 6 and Sandy Springs wins 17. 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 Elizabeth to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $556,300 median home), income ($59,939 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Sandy Springs, GA are about 727 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.