Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy, UT
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories
Sandy
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $53,749 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 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
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Winston-Salem
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($187,400 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $684/mo less ($956 vs $1,640)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $53,749/yr
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Median Income
$53,749
$108,165 vs $54,416/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
70% lower
246.7 vs 809.7 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
2.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$305k less
$187,400 vs $492,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy, UT | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $492,300⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,640⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,165 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Canyons District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.0" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 81.9" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,635 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.5% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories. Sandy wins 14 and Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($492,300 vs $187,400 median home), income ($108,165 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy, UT and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,730 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.