Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
West Jordan
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($340,200 vs $412,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,489)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $26,910/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
West Jordan, UT
Pros
63% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $26,910 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$72k less
$340,200 vs $412,100
Phoenix
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 93.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.4 on the COL index
West Jordan
Median Income
$26,910
$99,002 vs $72,092/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
63% lower
294.2 vs 799.6 per 100k
West Jordan
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.5 |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 93.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 13 and West Jordan 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 Phoenix to West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $412,100 median home), income ($72,092 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and West Jordan, UT are about 486 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.