Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 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 Jordan
Utah
11
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.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,489)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $26,645/yr
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
West Jordan, UT
Pros
66% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Households earn $26,645 more per year on average
Homes cost $47k less ($412,100 vs $458,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 98.5 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.2% unemployment
West Jordan
Median Income
$26,645
$99,002 vs $72,357/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
66% lower
294.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$47k less
$412,100 vs $458,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.5 |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 1% 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 Jordan 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 Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $412,100 median home), income ($72,357 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and West Jordan, UT are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.