Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 13 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ 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.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($326,600 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $349/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,640)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $33,270/yr
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $33,270 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 28°F
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 Madison
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$166k less
$326,600 vs $492,300
Sandy
Median Income
$33,270
$108,165 vs $74,895/yr
Sandy
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 95.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Madison is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 13 of 23 categories. Madison wins 10 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 Madison to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $492,300 median home), income ($74,895 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Sandy, UT are about 1,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.