Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
West Valley City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($242,300 vs $333,600)
14% less violent crime than West Valley City
Rent averages $315/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,360)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $33,921/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $33,921 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
14% lower
406.1 vs 469.5 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$91k less
$242,300 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$33,921
$81,719 vs $47,798/yr
West Valley City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 30.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County 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 Athens-Clarke County to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $333,600 median home), income ($47,798 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and West Valley City, UT are about 1,633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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