Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($395,600 vs $492,300)
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,512 vs $1,640)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $30,510/yr
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
71% less violent crime than Atlanta
Households earn $30,510 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$97k less
$395,600 vs $492,300
Sandy
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$30,510
$108,165 vs $77,655/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
71% lower
246.7 vs 840.6 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 9 and Sandy wins 14. 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 Atlanta to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $492,300 median home), income ($77,655 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Sandy, UT are about 1,574 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.