Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ 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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,670)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 89°F
Homes cost $33k less ($523,100 vs $556,300)
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.7%)
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $7,427/yr
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Portland
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,427 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Home Value
$33k less
$523,100 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$7,427
$93,303 vs $85,876/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
81% lower
139.2 vs 720.1 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Sandy Springs
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories. Portland 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 Portland to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $556,300 median home), income ($85,876 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Sandy Springs, GA are about 2,162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.