Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ 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.
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,640)
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sandy by $22,289/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
66% less violent crime than Portland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.2%)
Households earn $22,289 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Homes cost $31k less ($492,300 vs $523,100)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$22,289
$108,165 vs $85,876/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
66% lower
246.7 vs 720.1 per 100k
Sandy
Median Home Value
$31k less
$492,300 vs $523,100
Sandy
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories. Portland 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 Portland to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $492,300 median home), income ($85,876 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Sandy, UT are about 643 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.