Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
West Valley City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($234,900 vs $333,600)
Rent averages $338/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,360)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than West Valley City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $22,869/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
56% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $22,869 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$99k less
$234,900 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$22,869
$81,719 vs $58,850/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
56% lower
469.5 vs 1066.1 per 100k
West Valley City
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 13 and West Valley City wins 10. 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 Lafayette to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $333,600 median home), income ($58,850 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and West Valley City, UT are about 1,333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.