Sandy Springs

Just minutes from downtown Atlanta, and you're a short drive or MARTA ride away from Metro Atlanta's top attractions. And while big city excitement is only minutes away, Sandy Springs is surrounded by more than 950 acres of parks and natural areas.

With a population exceeding 100,000, Sandy Springs is a city in its own right, but it is dwarfed by Atlanta to the south. Because of this, it is considered a suburb of the larger city. As cities go, it is relatively young. It feels somewhat shiny and new, with an abundance of development underway. Its cost of living index is 131 on a national scale of 100. In contrast, the rest of Georgia scores 95. Median home price is almost three times the state average, but average rent charged is just over the state norm. More than half of Sandy Springs households are occupied by renters. Sandy Springs is in no way a traditional city, but it boasts a downtown area that includes the original natural springs it was named for. Northside Tower has long been considered a downtown landmark.

Its various neighborhoods comprise homes, shops, restaurants, offices, commercial centers, and the largest medical center in Georgia. It shares the sprawling Perimeter Center development with neighboring Dunwoody. The Sandy Springs residential neighborhoods just north of Buckhead and Tuxedo Park are home to some of the metropolitan area's most impressive estate properties and highest residential sales. The oldest house in Sandy Springs dates back to 1842, and in 1950, the Georgia state legislature blocked Atlanta in its attempt to annex the growing community.

It remained under county jurisdiction for the next five decades, despite housing booms and major growth. Its road to cityhood was not without significant roadblocks, though. Sandy Springs only achieved full independence in 2005, when its residents voted 94% to 6% in favor of incorporation.