Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 13 of 22 categories
Salt Lake City
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
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.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,360)
Smaller class sizes — 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
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
Median income trails West Valley City by $9,362/yr
West Valley City, UT
Pros
46% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Homes cost $125k less ($333,600 vs $458,600)
Households earn $9,362 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
West Valley City
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$9,362
$81,719 vs $72,357/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
46% lower
469.5 vs 864.2 per 100k
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$125k less
$333,600 vs $458,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 32.5 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 13 of 22 categories. Salt Lake City wins 13 and West Valley City wins 9. 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 Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $333,600 median home), income ($72,357 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and West Valley City, UT are about 7 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.