Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orange, CA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories
Orange
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Sandy
Sandy, UT
Pros
Homes cost $356k less ($492,300 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $508/mo less ($1,640 vs $2,148)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orange
Median Income
$1,170
$109,335 vs $108,165/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
8% lower
226.1 vs 246.7 per 100k
Sandy
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Home Value
$356k less
$492,300 vs $848,200
Sandy
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orange, CA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $848,200⚠ High | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,148⚠ High | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,335 ✓ Higher | $108,165 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Orange Unified | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 21.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 138,728 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.9% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orange's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories. Orange wins 8 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 Orange to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($848,200 vs $492,300 median home), income ($109,335 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orange, CA and Sandy, UT are about 573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.