Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 14 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($229,000 vs $492,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $219/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,640)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $37,121/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.2%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sandy
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $37,121 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 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
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Violent Crime
6% lower
232.7 vs 246.7 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$263k less
$229,000 vs $492,300
Garland
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.7°F
Sandy
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$37,121
$108,165 vs $71,044/yr
Sandy
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sandy leads 14 of 22 categories. Garland wins 8 and Sandy wins 14. 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 Garland to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $492,300 median home), income ($71,044 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Sandy, UT are about 993 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.