Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Waterbury, CT
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 12 of 23 categories
Waterbury
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
West Valley City
Utah
12
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.
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($162,800 vs $333,600)
31% less violent crime than West Valley City
Rent averages $220/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $30,268/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $30,268 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
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
Waterbury
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
31% lower
322.5 vs 469.5 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$171k less
$162,800 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$30,268
$81,719 vs $51,451/yr
West Valley City
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Waterbury, CT | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $162,800 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,140 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,451 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.7% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Waterbury School District | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.6" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 46.8" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,480 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.8% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Waterbury's cost of living index is 95.1 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 12 of 23 categories. Waterbury 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 Waterbury to West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,800 vs $333,600 median home), income ($51,451 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Waterbury, CT and West Valley City, UT are about 2,012 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.