Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 16 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
West Valley City
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
13% less violent crime than West Valley City
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $21,780/yr
Cost of living runs 16% higher than West Valley City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $21,780 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.0%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $25k less ($333,600 vs $358,400)
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
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
13% lower
408.7 vs 469.5 per 100k
West Valley City
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$21,780
$81,719 vs $59,939/yr
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$25k less
$333,600 vs $358,400
West Valley City
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 15.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 16 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 7 and West Valley 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 Elizabeth to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $333,600 median home), income ($59,939 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and West Valley City, UT are about 1,966 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.