Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 13 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
13
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.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($205,800 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $664/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $34,606/yr
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $34,606 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$351k less
$205,800 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$34,606
$93,303 vs $58,697/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
92% lower
139.2 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 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 | 363⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 13 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 10 and Sandy Springs wins 13. 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 Little Rock to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $556,300 median home), income ($58,697 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Sandy Springs, GA are about 459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.