Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy Springs, GA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 12 of 23 categories
Sandy Springs
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37 ✓ Safer
Population
107,221
Topeka
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $39,251 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($124,700 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $744/mo less ($926 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $39,251/yr
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$39,251
$93,303 vs $54,052/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
84% lower
139.2 vs 856.5 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$432k less
$124,700 vs $556,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy Springs, GA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $556,300⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,670⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,303 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.2% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.0% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,221 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy Springs's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Sandy Springs wins 12 and Topeka wins 11. 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 Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($556,300 vs $124,700 median home), income ($93,303 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy Springs, GA and Topeka, KS are about 720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.