Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
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.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($213,300 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $36,149/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $36,149 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Portsmouth
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$343k less
$213,300 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$36,149
$93,303 vs $57,154/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
81% lower
139.2 vs 752.4 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 107,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 9 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 Portsmouth to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $556,300 median home), income ($57,154 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.