Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,868
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($333,600 vs $494,100)
40% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $305/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
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
Lakewood
Median Income
$1,067
$82,786 vs $81,719/yr
West Valley City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Violent Crime
40% lower
469.5 vs 787.2 per 100k
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$161k less
$333,600 vs $494,100
West Valley City
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $81,719 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 51.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 10 and West Valley City wins 13. 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 Lakewood to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $333,600 median home), income ($82,786 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and West Valley City, UT are about 370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.