Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 14 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
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.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than West Valley City
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $376k less ($333,600 vs $709,700)
31% less violent crime than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Rent averages $338/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,698)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
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
West Valley City
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$2,724
$81,719 vs $78,995/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
31% lower
469.5 vs 676.4 per 100k
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$376k less
$333,600 vs $709,700
West Valley City
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 14 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 9 and West Valley City wins 14. 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 Long Beach to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $333,600 median home), income ($78,995 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and West Valley City, UT are about 585 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.