Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Plano leads 13 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
39% less violent crime than Sandy
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $80k less ($412,500 vs $492,300)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sandy
Sandy, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Violent Crime
39% lower
151.6 vs 246.7 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$80k less
$412,500 vs $492,300
Plano
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.7°F
Sandy
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$2,486
$108,165 vs $105,679/yr
Sandy
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.2% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 13 of 23 categories. Plano wins 13 and Sandy wins 10. 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 Plano to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $492,300 median home), income ($105,679 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Sandy, UT are about 982 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.