Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 12 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Sandy Springs
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,303
Violent Crime Index
37
Population
107,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $54,924 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Rent averages $683/mo less ($1,670 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $81k less ($556,300 vs $637,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $54,924/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$54,924
$148,227 vs $93,303/yr
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Home Value
$81k less
$556,300 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $556,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,670⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $93,303 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 24.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 37 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 97.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 107,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 12 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 12 and Sandy Springs wins 11. 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 Highlands Ranch to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $556,300 median home), income ($148,227 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Sandy Springs, GA are about 1,202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.