Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 18 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
18
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sandy by $18,953/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Sandy, UT
Pros
61% less violent crime than Boston
Homes cost $193k less ($492,300 vs $684,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,953 more per year on average
Rent averages $341/mo less ($1,640 vs $1,981)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$18,953
$108,165 vs $89,212/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
61% lower
246.7 vs 627.9 per 100k
Sandy
Median Home Value
$193k less
$492,300 vs $684,900
Sandy
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
2.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 18 of 23 categories. Boston wins 5 and Sandy wins 18. 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 Boston to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $492,300 median home), income ($89,212 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Sandy, UT are about 2,098 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.