Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 14 of 22 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620
Sandy Springs
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37 ✓ Safer
Population
107,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($291,300 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $644/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,670)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $38,699/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $38,699 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than New Bedford
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$265k less
$291,300 vs $556,300
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.9 on the COL index
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$38,699
$93,303 vs $54,604/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
61% lower
139.2 vs 353.2 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Sandy Springs
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 107,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 14 of 22 categories. New Bedford wins 8 and Sandy Springs wins 14. 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 New Bedford to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $556,300 median home), income ($54,604 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 905 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.