Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 13 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($162,000 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $723/mo less ($917 vs $1,640)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $56,642/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $56,642 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
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
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Roanoke
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$330k less
$162,000 vs $492,300
Sandy
Median Income
$56,642
$108,165 vs $51,523/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
60% lower
246.7 vs 620.4 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
2.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 13 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 10 and Sandy wins 13. 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 Roanoke to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $492,300 median home), income ($51,523 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Sandy, UT are about 1,720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.