Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chico
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
West Valley City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Median income trails West Valley City by $15,787/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
33% less violent crime than Chico
Homes cost $94k less ($333,600 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Households earn $15,787 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
West Valley City
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$15,787
$81,719 vs $65,932/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
33% lower
469.5 vs 699.2 per 100k
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$94k less
$333,600 vs $427,600
West Valley City
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chico wins 11 and West Valley City wins 11. 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 Chico to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $333,600 median home), income ($65,932 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and West Valley City, UT are about 521 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.