Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962 ✓ 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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,374 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Homes cost $505k less ($492,300 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $988/mo less ($1,640 vs $2,628)
44% less violent crime than Cambridge
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.2%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $13,374/yr
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$13,374
$121,539 vs $108,165/yr
Sandy
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Violent Crime
44% lower
246.7 vs 436.7 per 100k
Sandy
Median Home Value
$505k less
$492,300 vs $997,600
Sandy
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.2% vs 3.3% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, 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 | $997,600⚠ High | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $108,165 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 95.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge'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 15 of 23 categories. Cambridge 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 Cambridge to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $492,300 median home), income ($121,539 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Sandy, UT are about 2,092 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.