Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 15 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
15
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($235,000 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $405/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,640)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $47,725/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $47,725 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Home Value
$257k less
$235,000 vs $492,300
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.2 on the COL index
Sandy
Median Income
$47,725
$108,165 vs $60,440/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
79% lower
246.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
2.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sandy leads 15 of 22 categories. Houston wins 7 and Sandy wins 15. 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 Houston to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $492,300 median home), income ($60,440 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Sandy, UT are about 1,188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.