Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ 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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $262k less ($230,500 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $574/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,640)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $50,462/yr
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $50,462 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Chattanooga
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$262k less
$230,500 vs $492,300
Sandy
Median Income
$50,462
$108,165 vs $57,703/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
70% lower
246.7 vs 823.7 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sandy leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 9 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 Chattanooga to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $492,300 median home), income ($57,703 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Sandy, UT are about 1,495 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.