Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ 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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($241,600 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $178/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,640)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $22,222/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Sandy
Sandy, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.2%)
Households earn $22,222 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 31°F
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
Aurora
Median Home Value
$251k less
$241,600 vs $492,300
Sandy
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$22,222
$108,165 vs $85,943/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
7% lower
246.7 vs 266.0 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora 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 Aurora to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $492,300 median home), income ($85,943 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Sandy, UT are about 1,224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.