Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($328,700 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $373/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,640)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $31,833/yr
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
79% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $31,833 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 22°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
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
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$164k less
$328,700 vs $492,300
Sandy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$31,833
$108,165 vs $76,332/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
79% lower
246.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 9 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 Minneapolis to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $492,300 median home), income ($76,332 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Sandy, UT are about 988 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.