Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 El Paso leads 16 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($159,300 vs $333,600)
41% less violent crime than West Valley City
Rent averages $384/mo less ($976 vs $1,360)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 27.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $26,009/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $26,009 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
41% lower
278.4 vs 469.5 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$174k less
$159,300 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$26,009
$81,719 vs $55,710/yr
West Valley City
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 16 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 16 and West Valley City wins 7. 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 Paso to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $333,600 median home), income ($55,710 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and West Valley City, UT are about 685 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.