Residential comparison · 13 facts
Athens, GA vs Sandy Springs, GA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Athens needs about $96,500 in Sandy Springs to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Sandy Springs, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $73,500 in Athens.
A few differences
- Sandy Springs is higher on median household income ($104,340 vs $52,974).
- Athens is lower on cost of living index (91 vs 119).
- Athens is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,241/mo vs $1,994/mo).
Athens vs Sandy Springs · facet by facet
| Facet | Athens, GA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $299,200 | $619,800 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,241/mo | $1,994/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| State & local income tax | 3.94% | 3.94% |
| Sales tax | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| Cost of living index | 91 | 119 |
| Groceries index | 98 | 98 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $52,974 | $104,340 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Crime index | 50/100 | 50/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 218 days | 218 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Athens, GA · Sandy Springs, GA
Questions & answers
- Is Athens cheaper than Sandy Springs?
- Athens has the lower day-to-day cost index (91 vs 119 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Sandy Springs equals $85,000 in Athens?
- A household earning $85,000 in Athens needs about $96,500 in Sandy Springs to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Sandy Springs lifestyle costs about $73,500 in Athens.