Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. George, UT
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 St. George leads 17 of 23 categories
St. George
Utah
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
West Valley City
Utah
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
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.
St. George, UT
Pros
55% less violent crime than West Valley City
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Median income trails West Valley City by $12,386/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($333,600 vs $415,200)
Households earn $12,386 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 102°F
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 3.3%)
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
St. George
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
55% lower
210.0 vs 469.5 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.0% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 94.0°F
West Valley City
Median Income
$12,386
$81,719 vs $69,333/yr
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$82k less
$333,600 vs $415,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. George, UT | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $415,200⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,333 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.1:1 | 22.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.6% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washington District | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.3" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,174 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.7% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. George's cost of living index is 96.1 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
St. George is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 17 of 23 categories. St. George wins 17 and West Valley City wins 6. 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 St. George to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,200 vs $333,600 median home), income ($69,333 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. George, UT and West Valley City, UT are about 263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.