Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy, UT
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Sandy leads 18 of 23 categories
Sandy
Utah
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Santa Ana
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy, UT
Pros
50% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (2.2%)
Households earn $23,955 more per year on average
Homes cost $132k less ($492,300 vs $624,000)
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sandy by $23,955/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$23,955
$108,165 vs $84,210/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
50% lower
246.7 vs 493.1 per 100k
Sandy
Median Home Value
$132k less
$492,300 vs $624,000
Sandy
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy, UT | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,165 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.5% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Canyons District | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 81.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,635 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 18 of 23 categories. Sandy wins 18 and Santa Ana wins 5. 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 Sandy to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($492,300 vs $624,000 median home), income ($108,165 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy, UT and Santa Ana, CA are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.