Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 16 of 23 categories
Compton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Salt Lake City
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Salt Lake City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
32% less violent crime than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $210/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,464)
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$2,629
$72,357 vs $69,728/yr
Salt Lake City
Violent Crime
32% lower
864.2 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$31k less
$458,600 vs $489,400
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 227⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 16 of 23 categories. Compton wins 7 and Salt Lake City wins 16. 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 Compton to Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $458,600 median home), income ($69,728 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.