Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 12 of 23 categories
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
12
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.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($264,900 vs $333,600)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $186/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Valley City by $11,800/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
24% less violent crime than St. Paul
Households earn $11,800 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 24°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$69k less
$264,900 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$11,800
$81,719 vs $69,919/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
24% lower
469.5 vs 617.7 per 100k
West Valley City
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.0% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 12 of 23 categories. St. Paul 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 St. Paul to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $333,600 median home), income ($69,919 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and West Valley City, UT are about 1,000 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.