Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 16 of 21 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
16
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($184,200 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $627/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $44,994/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $44,994 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Knoxville
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$372k less
$184,200 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$44,994
$93,303 vs $48,309/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
81% lower
139.2 vs 740.3 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 53.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 16 of 21 categories. Knoxville wins 5 and Sandy Springs wins 16. 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 Knoxville to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $556,300 median home), income ($48,309 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Sandy Springs, GA are about 143 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.