Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories
Salt Lake City
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $800/mo less ($1,254 vs $2,054)
Homes cost $206k less ($458,600 vs $664,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Covina by $23,862/yr
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
West Covina, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Households earn $23,862 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Salt Lake City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$206k less
$458,600 vs $664,500
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$23,862
$96,219 vs $72,357/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
72% lower
239.3 vs 864.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories. Salt Lake City wins 12 and West Covina wins 11. 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 Salt Lake City to West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $664,500 median home), income ($72,357 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and West Covina, CA are about 568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.