Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 12 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
West Valley City
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
16% less violent crime than West Valley City
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($333,600 vs $423,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,526)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Median Income
$1,219
$82,938 vs $81,719/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
16% lower
394.4 vs 469.5 per 100k
West Valley City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$90k less
$333,600 vs $423,500
West Valley City
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $81,719 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 12 of 23 categories. Sparks 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 Sparks to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $333,600 median home), income ($82,938 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and West Valley City, UT are about 414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.