Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
West Jordan
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
116,383 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
53% less violent crime than West Jordan
Households earn $49,225 more per year on average
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Cost of living runs 7% higher than West Jordan
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Rent averages $864/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $225k less ($412,100 vs $637,400)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $49,225/yr
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$49,225
$148,227 vs $99,002/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
53% lower
138.1 vs 294.2 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.2% unemployment
West Jordan
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$225k less
$412,100 vs $637,400
West Jordan
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $99,002 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 55.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 14 and West Jordan wins 9. 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 Highlands Ranch to West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $412,100 median home), income ($148,227 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and West Jordan, UT are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.