(Note: the 2000 census numbers are for Sandy Springs prior to incorporation, but cover the same area.)
According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey in 2008, the population of Sandy Springs is 98,000 growing from census 2000, when there were 85,781 people, 39,288 households, and 19,683 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,274.1 people per square mile (878.1/km²). There were 42,794 housing units at an average density of 1,134.5/sq mi (438.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 77.55% White, 12.04% African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.94% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.93% of the population. According to a 2006 report by the Atlanta Jewish Federation, 15,300 Jews reside in Sandy Springs and the adjacent city of Dunwoody.
There were 39,288 households, out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.9% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $76,240, and the median income for a family was $109,810. The average income for a household was $116,406 and the average income for a family was $169,815. Males had a median income of $60,053 versus $50,030 for females. The per capita income for the city was $53,790. About 3.1% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.
In recent years, Sandy Springs has experienced an absence of local government and major challenges from traffic. City planning and efforts to improve traffic flow are high priority issues to the community.
Sandy Springs is served by two major limited-access highways, Georgia 400 – which runs north-south – and I-285 – which runs east-west. Major surface streets include Roswell Road (U.S. 19/Ga. 9), Johnson Ferry Road, Abernathy Road, Glenridge Drive, and Dunwoody Club Drive.
The new city's public works department has made significant improvements in the conditions of roads and traffic signals since incorporation in December 2005. The department has cleaned 1,000 catch basins, striped 30 miles (48 km) of roadway, responded to more than 2,000 calls for repair and service, and retimed hundreds of traffic signals to help improve flow of traffic and reduce automobile idling.
The GDOT is currently planning to widen Abernathy Road between Johnson Ferry and Roswell Roads from two lanes to four plus a road median, and the city is planning the development of a linear park with sidewalks and walking trails to add greenspace and improve connectivity in the city. The western intersection will be reconfigured so that traffic to and from Johnson Ferry Road – which now carries heavy loads of Cobb County commuters across the Chattahoochee River at rush hour – will flow directly with Abernathy. It will be given a temporary state highway number which will not be placed on signs.
The major provider of mass transit is MARTA, which operates a heavy rail rapid transit line and several bus lines through Sandy Springs. The city is served by the Medical Center, Sandy Springs and North Springs stations. The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority also operates express buses from the North Springs station to other counties.