Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy Springs, GA
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories
Sandy Springs
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37
Population
107,221
Savannah
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $38,555 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 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)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Savannah
Savannah, GA
Pros
Homes cost $353k less ($203,300 vs $556,300)
85% less violent crime than Sandy Springs
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,216 vs $1,670)
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $38,555/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$38,555
$93,303 vs $54,748/yr
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
85% lower
20.3 vs 139.2 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$353k less
$203,300 vs $556,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy Springs, GA | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $556,300⚠ High | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,670⚠ High | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,303 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.2% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.0% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,221 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 20.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy Springs's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories. Sandy Springs wins 8 and Savannah 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 Sandy Springs to Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($556,300 vs $203,300 median home), income ($93,303 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy Springs, GA and Savannah, GA are about 226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.