Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 13 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Sandy Springs
Georgia
13
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($162,000 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $753/mo less ($917 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $41,780/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $41,780 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Roanoke
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 10% higher than Roanoke
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$394k less
$162,000 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$41,780
$93,303 vs $51,523/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
78% lower
139.2 vs 620.4 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 107,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 13 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 10 and Sandy Springs wins 13. 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 Roanoke to Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $556,300 median home), income ($51,523 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 339 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.