Sandy, UT vs Orem, UT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Sandy, UT and Orem, UT spend within 12.1% of each other per resident — $8,787 versus $7,841 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Sandy, UT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 74/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Orem, UT — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Sandy, UT at $1,294 per resident and in Orem, UT at $752.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Sandy, UT at 27% of total revenue, whereas Orem, UT relies most on other revenue at 2101%.
Summary
Sandy spends 12.1% more per capita than Orem ($946/person difference). Sandy, UT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 74/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $201 |
| Sales Tax | $661 | $351 |
| Income Tax | $666 | $509 |
| Intergovernmental | $554 | $137 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,424 | $1,690 |
| Other | $646 | $2,873 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $287 | $134 |
| Highways & Roads | $165 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $56 |
| Public Welfare | $287 | $469 |
| Health | $0 | $376 |
| Hospitals | $154 | $148 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,294 | $752 |
| Housing | $2,073 | $1,776 |
| Sewerage | $143 | $101 |
| Utilities | $1,806 | $1,081 |
| Other | $2,577 | $2,949 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.