Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 16 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ 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.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
44% less violent crime than West Valley City
Homes cost $86k less ($247,900 vs $333,600)
Rent averages $295/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,360)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $15,632/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $15,632 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 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
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
44% lower
262.0 vs 469.5 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$86k less
$247,900 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$15,632
$81,719 vs $66,087/yr
West Valley City
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.0% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 16 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $333,600 median home), income ($66,087 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and West Valley City, UT are about 1,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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