Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
14
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($321,800 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $30,302/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $30,302 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Home Value
$235k less
$321,800 vs $556,300
Fresno
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 89.4°F
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$30,302
$93,303 vs $63,001/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
81% lower
139.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Fresno 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 Fresno to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $556,300 median home), income ($63,001 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 1,995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.