Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $29,222 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Sandy
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Sandy, UT
Pros
Homes cost $341k less ($492,300 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $587/mo less ($1,640 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (2.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $29,222/yr
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$29,222
$137,387 vs $108,165/yr
Sandy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Home Value
$341k less
$492,300 vs $833,300
Sandy
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
2.2% vs 2.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $108,165 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 8 and Sandy wins 15. 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 Arlington to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $492,300 median home), income ($137,387 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Sandy, UT are about 1,838 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.