Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
16
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.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($314,100 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $41,211/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $41,211 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.8 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$242k less
$314,100 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$41,211
$93,303 vs $52,092/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
86% lower
139.2 vs 978.6 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
6.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 7 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 Paterson to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $556,300 median home), income ($52,092 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Sandy Springs, GA are about 738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.