Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy, UT
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories
Sandy
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Santa Rosa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy, UT
Pros
28% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Homes cost $169k less ($492,300 vs $661,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.2%)
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,640 vs $2,024)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,561 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Median income trails Sandy by $15,561/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$15,561
$108,165 vs $92,604/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
28% lower
246.7 vs 342.6 per 100k
Sandy
Median Home Value
$169k less
$492,300 vs $661,700
Sandy
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy, UT | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,165 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.5% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Canyons District | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.0" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 81.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,635 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.5% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories. Sandy wins 15 and Santa Rosa wins 8. 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($492,300 vs $661,700 median home), income ($108,165 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy, UT and Santa Rosa, CA are about 597 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.