Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roswell, GA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Roswell leads 16 of 23 categories
Roswell
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Sparks
Nevada
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roswell, GA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Sparks
Households earn $39,986 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Sparks, NV
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $56k less ($423,500 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,619)
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $39,986/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Roswell
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$39,986
$122,924 vs $82,938/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
59% lower
160.1 vs 394.4 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Median Home Value
$56k less
$423,500 vs $479,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roswell, GA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $479,400⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,619⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,924 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 45 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,770 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.8% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roswell's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 16 of 23 categories. Roswell wins 16 and Sparks wins 7. 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 Roswell to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($479,400 vs $423,500 median home), income ($122,924 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roswell, GA and Sparks, NV are about 1,980 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.