Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy, UT
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Sandy leads 16 of 23 categories
Sandy
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $60,488 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.5 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
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($198,500 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $593/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,640)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $60,488/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 2.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Median Income
$60,488
$108,165 vs $47,677/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
72% lower
246.7 vs 891.4 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
2.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$294k less
$198,500 vs $492,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy, UT | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $492,300⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,640⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,165 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Canyons District | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.0" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 81.9" | 51.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,635 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.5% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 16 of 23 categories. Sandy wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($492,300 vs $198,500 median home), income ($108,165 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy, UT and Springfield, MA are about 2,024 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.