Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
53% less violent crime than West Valley City
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $31,460 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than West Valley City
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $322k less ($333,600 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $623/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $31,460/yr
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 3.2%)
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$31,460
$113,179 vs $81,719/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
53% lower
219.1 vs 469.5 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.0% unemployment
West Valley City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$322k less
$333,600 vs $655,700
West Valley City
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $81,719 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 14 and West Valley City 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 Alexandria to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $333,600 median home), income ($113,179 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and West Valley City, UT are about 1,848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.