Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 17 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
West Jordan
Utah
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $39,073/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Cost of living runs 17% higher than West Jordan
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $39,073 more per year on average
Homes cost $185k less ($412,100 vs $597,200)
30% less violent crime than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.2%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
West Jordan
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Income
$39,073
$99,002 vs $59,929/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
30% lower
294.2 vs 423.2 per 100k
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$185k less
$412,100 vs $597,200
West Jordan
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
West Jordan
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 17 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 6 and West Jordan wins 17. 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 El Monte to West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $412,100 median home), income ($59,929 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and West Jordan, UT are about 559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.