Sandy was founded in 1871 and later incorporated in 1893. No one is sure where the name “Sandy” comes from, though most people believe it came from the sandy soil in the area. Sandy was initially an agricultural community known for growing peaches and beets.
It’s now known as the home of the Utah Royals, a professional soccer team. Sandy is a nice place to live, with plenty of single-family homes for sale, outdoor attractions, and nice schools. But before you consider moving to Sandy, you should learn more about living in Sandy. Here’s what you should know about this community.
Where Is Sandy Utah?
As a city, Sandy is at the bottom of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City County and is part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. If you plan on commuting to Salt Lake City for work, it is 18 miles from Sandy Utah to Salt Lake City. Sandy borders White City, Draper, South Jordan, West Jordan, Midvale, and Cottonwood Heights.
Sandy information
- County: Salt Lake
- Area: 24.2 square miles
- Sandy Utah zip codes: 84070 and 84090-84094
- Sandy area codes: 385 and 801
- Sandy elevation: 4,450 feet
- Sandy time zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST)
- Closest airport to Sandy: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), 22 miles away
Population of Sandy Utah & Demographics
The Sandy Utah population is 95,038, and the population density is 3,924 people per square mile. The population grew by 10.8% between 2010 and 2020. Notable people from Sandy include professional dancers Derek Hough and Julianne Hough, San Diego Chargers player Ryon Bingham, and pro runner Karl Meltzer.
Sandy demographics include:
- Racial and ethnic composition: 81% White, 10% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 3% two or more races, 1% Black or African American, 1% Pacific Islander, 1% other
- Sex breakdown: 51% female and 49% male
- Foreign-born population: 11.7%
- Median household income: $100,153, which is much higher than the state median household income of $79,449 and higher than the metro average of $81,307
- Median age: 37 years old
- Educational attainment: 94.6% of the residents graduated from high school, and 46.2% have received their bachelor’s degree or higher
Transportation
If you plan on commuting to work while living in Sandy, there are plenty of major roads you can use, including I-15, US Route 89, and Utah State Route 209 in Sandy, UT. The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) provides buses and commuter and light rail trains. The FrontRunner commuter rail route connects Sandy with Draper, Provo, Orem, and other cities in Salt Lake Country. The TRAX connects Sandy to Salt Lake City. The closest airport to Sandy is the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
Cost of Living in Sandy
Sandy is an affordable place to live. The Salt Lake City metro area has a cost of living index of 102.1; items in the region cost 2.1% more than the national average. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four must make a median household income of $86,552 per year to live comfortably in the Salt Lake City area.
Typical Sandy living expenses
- Meal, inexpensive restaurant: $20.00
- Domestic beer (1 pint draught): $5.50
- Imported beer (12 oz bottle): $7.00
- Milk (regular, 1 gallon): $3.60
- Bread (1 loaf): $3.17
- Oranges (1 pound): $1.51
- Apples (1 pound): $1.62
- Beef round (1 pound): $6.67
- Eggs (regular, 12): $3.54
- Average cost of gasoline per gallon: $3.98
- Fitness club (per month, 1 adult): $31.43
- Average Sandy utilities per month: $325
Source: Numbeo
*Expenses for Salt Lake City
Income, sales, & property tax in Sandy, UT
- State tax: 6.10%
- County tax: 1.35%
- Sandy tax: 0%
- Average property tax rate in Salt Lake City County: 0.12847
House prices & rent
Home prices in Sandy are higher than the national average. However, you can find affordable homes for sale in Sandy Utah, and rent Sandy apartments.
Sandy UT Real Estate | Average Rent & Home Price
Many homes near Salt Lake City have Victorian, contemporary, and bungalow architectural styles. When buying a home in Sandy, the median sale price for Sandy homes for sale is $600,000, and the average sale price per square foot is $252. If you’re actively looking for a piece of Sandy real estate to buy, there are plenty of homes for sale in Sandy Utah.
When purchasing Sandy Utah real estate, you should stick to a strict budget, so you save money. To help you do that, here’s a breakdown of the types of Sandy Utah real estate with their median sale price:
- Single-family houses: $640,591
- Townhouses: $500,000
- Condos: $495,000
The average rent in Sandy, UT, is $1,622, according to RentCafe. You have hundreds of options for Sandy apartments for rent.
Best Neighborhoods In Sandy Utah | Where to Live in Sandy
Searching for Sandy UT homes for sale while moving to Sandy can be daunting. To make buying a home easy, here are two great communities in Sandy, Utah!
Historic Sandy | Family-friendly Sandy UT neighborhood
The Historic Sandy neighborhood dates back to the 1890s. The city is currently building additional homes in Historic Sandy, giving you plenty of options for newly-constructed, spacious single-family properties. Many homes have three or more bedrooms and luxurious features like wood-burning fireplaces and French doors. The median sale price for a home in Historic Sandy is $463,000, and you can turn to Utah first-time home buyer programs to get affordable loans.
Alta High | Best Sandy neighborhood for young adults
Home to Alta High School, Alta High is a small Sandy neighborhood. The neighborhood is popular amongst young professionals, with an average age of 44. The median sale price for homes in the Alta High neighborhood is $549,000, and the average sale price per square foot is $275. Being a short drive to Salt Lake City, Alta High is convenient for young adults to live and commute to the city for their jobs.
Weather Sandy Utah
Sandy has a humid continental climate (Dfa). The spring and summer months are dry and hot in Sandy, UT, with the temperatures ranging from the low-60s to the low-90s. The days are snowy and cold during the fall and winter, with temperatures ranging from the upper-30s to the mid-50s.
The best time to visit Sandy, UT, is between June and September due to heightened tourism.
In Sandy, the average amount of rainfall is 13.7 inches yearly, and then the average snowfall is 13.1 inches yearly. You may experience tropical cyclones, tornados, landslides, and wildfires while living in Sandy.
Restaurants In Sandy Utah
Trying to find the top food spots in a city can sometimes feel like a daunting task. Here are three of the best Sandy restaurants!
Slackwater Sandy
With artisan pizzas, live music, craft beer, and a welcoming atmosphere, Slackwater Pizzeria in Sandy is a family-friendly destination in Sandy. Slackwater also serves kid-friendly Sunday brunch, including breakfast pizzas and eggs Benedict.
10290 S State St, Sandy, UT 84070, (801) 930-5147
Fratelli Ristorante
As an award-winning Italian restaurant in Sandy, Fratelli Ristorante is a family-owned and operated restaurant that focuses on serving meals made with fresh ingredients. With everything from authentic pizza to homemade gelato and original cocktails, Fratelli Ristorante is one of the most popular restaurants in Sandy, UT, for couples and families.
8612 S 1300 E, Sandy, UT 84094, (801) 495-4550
Localz Bistro
Localz Bistro is an award-winning restaurant known for its casual and cool atmosphere. A few of their most popular menu items include chicken wings, ceviche, Cajun chicken alfredo, lowcountry shrimp and grits, and grilled mahi-mahi.
1850 E 9400 S, Sandy, UT 84093, (801) 432-7604
Things to Do in Sandy UT
Whether you’re visiting Sandy, UT, for the first time or are a resident, there are plenty of fun places to explore throughout the city. With everything ranging from kid-friendly parks, fun museums, and quaint stores, Sandy is a great place to call home! Here are just some of the top things to do in Sandy, Utah.
Top Sandy Attractions
K1 Speed – Indoor Go Karts
K1 Speed is an indoor go-karting arena that is open for children and adults. When you’re done racing around the track, you can play video games, billiards, and air hockey in an on-site arcade.
Round1 Bowling & Amusement
Round1 is a family-friendly entertainment center best known for its bowling alleys, billiard halls, and ping pong tables. Kids can also enjoy arcade games, and adults can participate in karaoke.
Classic Fun Center
The Sandy Classic Fun Center contains a 12,000-square-foot skating rink, a two-story indoor jungle gym, and a two-floor laser tag arena. Classic Fun Center is one of the most popular attractions in Sandy for birthday parties, with kids enjoying free games and pizza.
Enigma Escape Games
Enigma Escape Games contains three one-hour indoor escape rooms for up to 10 people. You and your friends can solve puzzles and discover clues in a unique setting.
Parks In Sandy
Storm Mountain Park
Storm Mountain Park contains a soccer and baseball field, a playground with monkey bars and swings, a picnic pavilion, tennis courts, and a nice walking path. The park is also home to unique special events throughout the year, including balloon festivals in August.
Lone Peak Park
Lone Peak Park has skateboarding bowls and ramps, making it the best destination for skateboarding in the city. The park also has a football field and a playground for kids.
Amphitheater Park
Amphitheater Park is a dog-friendly park with plenty of space for your pet to run around. Kids also love the playground and trails where they can ride scooters and bikes.
Sandy Museums, Entertainment & Arts
Sandy Museum
The Sandy Museum is a historic building dating back to the 1860s. The museum has two floors of displays about Sandy’s history and culture, including artifacts from the city’s mining era.
Dreamscapes
Dreamscapes employs a team of over 100 Utah artists to create physical and digital artworks in Sandy. All works of art are made with sustainable resources.
Sandy Amphitheater
The Sandy Amphitheater is Sandy’s leading concert venue. Artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Goo Goo Dolls, Midland, Justin Moore, and Zeppelin USA have performed at the amphitheater over the last 20 years.
Shopping in Sandy
The Shops At South Town
The Shops At South Town has over 100 shops and restaurants to choose from, along with some fun entertainment spots. You can visit major retailers like Bath & Body Works and Aerie as well as locally-run boutiques.
The Commons at Southtowne
The Commons at Southtowne is an outdoor shopping mall with major retailers like Nordstrom Rack, PetSmart, and Burlington. While you’re shopping, you can grab a quick meal at Five Guys, Carl’s Jr, and Santorini’s Greek Grill.
Map of Sandy Things to Do
Sports in Sandy Utah
The Utah Royals is the most famous sports team in Sandy, Utah. The team is a women’s professional soccer club in the National Women’s Soccer League. The city is not home to any other professional teams, though Sandy’s high schools have sports teams of their own.
Sandy Utah Crime Rate
Here are the latest crime statistics for Sandy Utah:
- Total crime rate: 3,248 offenses per 100,000 people (19.2% higher than the state, 38.4% higher than the country)
- Violent crime rate: 180 crimes per 100,000 people (31.0% lower than the state, 53.6% lower than the country)
- Homicide rate: 2 murders per 100,000 residents (35.5% lower than the state, 69.4% lower than the country)
- Property crime rate: 3,068 crimes per 100,000 residents (24.5% higher than the state, 56.7% higher than the country)
Here’s how the Sandy crime rate compares to other cities with similar populations:
- St. George, Utah: The total crime rate is 1,280 per 100k people, which is 45.4% lower than the national average. When compared to Sandy, St George has a crime rate that is 86.93% lower.
- Fishers, Indiana: The total crime rate is 712 per 100k people, which is 69.7% lower than the national average. When compared to Sandy, Fishers has a 128.1% lower crime rate.
- Bend, Oregon: The total crime rate is 2,061 per 100k people, which is 12.1% lower than the national average. When compared to Sandy, Bend has a 44.72% lower crime rate.
- Albany, New York: The total crime rate is 3,654 per 100k people, which is 55.8% higher than the national average. When compared to Sandy, Albany has a crime rate that is 11.76% higher.
While some areas have a lower crime rate than Sandy, UT, there are still plenty of safe places to call home and raise a family. At the Sandy City Police Department, 110 sworn officers work hard to serve the community, and 32 civilian employees help run the department.
Jobs in Sandy Utah
According to Payscale, the average salary in Sandy, Utah, is $75,000 per year, and the average hourly rate for jobs in Sandy is $19.73. Sandy’s largest industries are information technology, financial services, and manufacturing. Some Sandy Utah jobs with a higher-than-average salary include software engineer, financial controller, and marketing director.
Sandy, UT, has a low unemployment rate of 2.7%, well below the United State’s average of 6%. The top employers in Sandy are Cafe Zupas, Suncrest Home Health & Hospice, and Layton Construction.
If you need a job, don’t worry because, within a 25-mile radius of Sandy, there are thousands of Sandy jobs available on Indeed. Visit the city government’s website to apply for City of Sandy jobs.
Sandy Schools
The Canyons School District is the main Sandy school district. US News and World Report ranks Sunrise Elementary School in Sandy as the top elementary school in Utah. US News also ranks Draper Park Middle School as the fourth-best middle school in the state. Jordan High School in Sandy has a graduation rate of 90%.
When it comes to colleges and universities near Sandy, UT, consider looking at Westminster College, the University of Utah, and Brigham Young University Provo. US News ranks Brigham Young University in the top 100 national universities.
The Sandy Library is part of the Salt Lake City Library, and it’s a great place if you’re writing a paper, doing research, or working remotely.
Living in Sandy is terrific for everyone! Families will enjoy the great schools and kid-friendly attractions, while retirees and professionals can enjoy spacious homes and prosperous job opportunities.
If you’re ready to start moving to Sandy, you should contact Wasatch Moving Company’s Sandy movers! With our 40+ employees, 8+ years in business, and 20,000+ individual moves, we have the experience and training you need in Sandy moving company. Call us today at 801-758-0030 for a free estimate!
