Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,987 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Sandy
Sandy, UT
Pros
Homes cost $1017k less ($492,300 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1331/mo less ($1,640 vs $2,971)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (2.2%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $40,987/yr
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$40,987
$149,152 vs $108,165/yr
Sandy
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Home Value
$1017k less
$492,300 vs $1,508,900
Sandy
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
18.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $108,165 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" ✓ Drier | 21.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories. San Mateo wins 12 and Sandy wins 11. 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 San Mateo to Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $492,300 median home), income ($149,152 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Sandy, UT are about 598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.