Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 17 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
17
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.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($362,800 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,670)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $20,295/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Lowell
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $20,295 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$194k less
$362,800 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$20,295
$93,303 vs $73,008/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
74% lower
139.2 vs 532.5 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Sandy Springs
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 17 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Sandy Springs wins 17. 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 Lowell to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $556,300 median home), income ($73,008 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 927 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.