Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 19 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
19
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $15,873/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Sandy
Sandy, UT
Pros
27% less violent crime than Renton
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.2%)
Households earn $15,873 more per year on average
Homes cost $85k less ($492,300 vs $576,800)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$15,873
$108,165 vs $92,292/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
27% lower
246.7 vs 339.2 per 100k
Sandy
Median Home Value
$85k less
$492,300 vs $576,800
Sandy
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.2% vs 4.2% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 19 of 23 categories. Renton wins 4 and Sandy wins 19. 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 Renton to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $492,300 median home), income ($92,292 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Sandy, UT are about 700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.