Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 14 of 23 categories
Downey
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
West Valley City
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Households earn $2,517 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than West Valley City
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $345k less ($333,600 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,814)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Median income trails Downey by $2,517/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$2,517
$84,236 vs $81,719/yr
West Valley City
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$345k less
$333,600 vs $679,000
West Valley City
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $81,719 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ 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 | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 14 of 23 categories. Downey wins 9 and West Valley City wins 14. 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 Downey to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $333,600 median home), income ($84,236 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and West Valley City, UT are about 575 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.