Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
12
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($316,600 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,640)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $33,455/yr
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
60% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $33,455 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$176k less
$316,600 vs $492,300
Sandy
Median Income
$33,455
$108,165 vs $74,710/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
60% lower
246.7 vs 619.2 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.2% vs 4.3% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Durham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 11 and Sandy wins 12. 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 Durham to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $492,300 median home), income ($74,710 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Sandy, UT are about 1,804 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.