Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 17 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
17
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($215,500 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $390/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,640)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $50,628/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $50,628 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 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
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$277k less
$215,500 vs $492,300
Sandy
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$50,628
$108,165 vs $57,537/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
73% lower
246.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
2.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 17 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 6 and Sandy wins 17. 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 Philadelphia to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $492,300 median home), income ($57,537 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Sandy, UT are about 1,921 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.