What it's like to live in Sandy
Sandy is a small city in Oregon with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Sandy deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Very rainy — 79" of rain per year
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Sandy compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Sandy
Based on Sandy's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,722
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,440 a year
- 67% of Sandy renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$94,060
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $47,030
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 32% above US
$1,861/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,861 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $470,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $470,300 · 67% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Clackamas County is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Clackamas County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 65% below US
115 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1262/100k · Sandy Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.1 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 74°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 18% below US
30% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 30%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 24:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (24 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Sandy's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,861/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Sandy
All Oregon guides →Not sure Sandy is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.