Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy, UT
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Sandy
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $36,143 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Tempe
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($382,100 vs $492,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $168/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,640)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $36,143/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 2.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Median Income
$36,143
$108,165 vs $72,022/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
48% lower
246.7 vs 470.3 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.2 on the COL index
Tempe
Median Home Value
$110k less
$382,100 vs $492,300
Tempe
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy, UT | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $492,300⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,640⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,165 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.5% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Canyons District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.7°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 81.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,635 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.5% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Sandy wins 11 and Tempe wins 12. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($492,300 vs $382,100 median home), income ($108,165 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy, UT and Tempe, AZ are about 496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.