Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy, UT
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories
Sandy
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Tampa
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $41,363 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Tampa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($333,200 vs $492,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $218/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,640)
Smaller class sizes — 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $41,363/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sandy
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$41,363
$108,165 vs $66,802/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
45% lower
246.7 vs 444.6 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Median Home Value
$159k less
$333,200 vs $492,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy, UT | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $492,300⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,640⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,165 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.5% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Canyons District | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.7°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 81.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,635 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.5% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories. Sandy wins 14 and Tampa wins 9. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($492,300 vs $333,200 median home), income ($108,165 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy, UT and Tampa, FL are about 1,877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.