Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 22 categories
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $551/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,640)
16% less violent crime than Sandy
Homes cost $101k less ($391,500 vs $492,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $50,222/yr
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.2%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $50,222 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
16% lower
206.6 vs 246.7 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$101k less
$391,500 vs $492,300
Provo
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.7°F
Sandy
Median Income
$50,222
$108,165 vs $57,943/yr
Sandy
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.2% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 21.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Provo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 22 categories. Provo wins 13 and Sandy wins 9. 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 Provo to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $492,300 median home), income ($57,943 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Sandy, UT are about 25 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.