Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ 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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $321k less ($235,000 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,670)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $32,863/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
88% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $32,863 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 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)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$321k less
$235,000 vs $556,300
Houston
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 89.4°F
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$32,863
$93,303 vs $60,440/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
88% lower
139.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 53.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Houston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Houston 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 Houston to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $556,300 median home), income ($60,440 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Sandy Springs, GA are about 707 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.