Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy Springs, GA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $38,887 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 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 Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $369k less ($187,400 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($956 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $38,887/yr
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$38,887
$93,303 vs $54,416/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
83% lower
139.2 vs 809.7 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$369k less
$187,400 vs $556,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy Springs, GA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $556,300⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,670⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,303 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.2% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.0% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,221 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy Springs's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Sandy Springs wins 14 and Winston-Salem wins 9. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($556,300 vs $187,400 median home), income ($93,303 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy Springs, GA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 277 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.