Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 13 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
13
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,360)
Homes cost $21k less ($312,300 vs $333,600)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $35,259/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than West Valley City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $35,259 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (4.0%)
19% less violent crime than Newark
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Home Value
$21k less
$312,300 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$35,259
$81,719 vs $46,460/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
19% lower
469.5 vs 581.2 per 100k
West Valley City
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
4.0% vs 10.7% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 13 of 23 categories. Newark 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 Newark to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $333,600 median home), income ($46,460 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and West Valley City, UT are about 1,966 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.