Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 17 of 23 categories
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Sandy
Utah
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,640)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $38,437/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Sandy
Sandy, UT
Pros
81% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $38,437 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (2.2%)
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$38,437
$108,165 vs $69,728/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
81% lower
246.7 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
2.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 21.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 95,635 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 17 of 23 categories. Compton wins 6 and Sandy wins 17. 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 Compton to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $492,300 median home), income ($69,728 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Sandy, UT are about 579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.