Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs is a markedly affluent community covering a 38-square-mile area of North Fulton County, about 14 miles north of downtown Atlanta. The income levels and cost of living in Sandy Springs are well above the national average. With a population of roughly 90,000, Sandy Springs is the second-largest city in the metropolitan Atlanta area and is the sixth-largest city in the state of Georgia.

Given these statistics, one might find it surprising that there are still a lot of great real estate values to be had.

The relatively small city of Sandy Springs boasts over a dozen premium parks, including three that are run by the National Park Service. When compared to neighboring Atlanta, Sandy Springs is a bit pricier. The median home value is about $200,000 higher. But the median salary is less than $10,000 higher, and the average rent is nearly the same.