Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
28% less violent crime than West Valley City
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,360)
Homes cost $25k less ($308,300 vs $333,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $22,113/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $22,113 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
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
Richmond
Violent Crime
28% lower
336.9 vs 469.5 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$25k less
$308,300 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$22,113
$81,719 vs $59,606/yr
West Valley City
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 13 and West Valley City 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 Richmond to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $333,600 median home), income ($59,606 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and West Valley City, UT are about 1,852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.