Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
12
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.
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $4,157 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($333,600 vs $523,100)
35% less violent crime than Portland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,530)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Median income trails Portland by $4,157/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$4,157
$85,876 vs $81,719/yr
West Valley City
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Violent Crime
35% lower
469.5 vs 720.1 per 100k
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$190k less
$333,600 vs $523,100
West Valley City
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $81,719 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 11 and West Valley City wins 12. 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 Portland to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $333,600 median home), income ($85,876 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and West Valley City, UT are about 632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.