Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Naperville leads 14 of 23 categories
Naperville
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,303
Violent Crime Index
37
Population
107,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $50,451 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Sandy Springs
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $74k less ($482,600 vs $556,300)
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 33°F
Rent averages $117/mo less ($1,670 vs $1,787)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $50,451/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Median Income
$50,451
$143,754 vs $93,303/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
40% lower
83.7 vs 139.2 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$74k less
$482,600 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.5% unemployment
Sandy Springs
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,670⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $93,303 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 37 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 68.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 97.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 14 of 23 categories. Naperville wins 14 and Sandy Springs wins 9. 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 Naperville to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $556,300 median home), income ($143,754 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Sandy Springs, GA are about 578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.