Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 13 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($167,900 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $754/mo less ($886 vs $1,640)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $41,270/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (3.9% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $41,270 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (2.2%)
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Cedar Rapids
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$324k less
$167,900 vs $492,300
Sandy
Median Income
$41,270
$108,165 vs $66,895/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
6% lower
246.7 vs 261.5 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
2.2% vs 3.9% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 13 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 10 and Sandy wins 13. 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 Cedar Rapids to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $492,300 median home), income ($66,895 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Sandy, UT are about 1,050 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.