Firstly why West-Valley-City, Utah?
I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:
- City: West-Valley-City
- State: Utah
- Population: 140,560 people
- West-Valley-City’s quick summary would be Known for its vibrant shopping centers, including the West Valley City Town Center, and the scenic West Valley Park.
Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:
- How many people move-in: 10,000 annually
- While this many move-out: 9,000 annually
- Net Migration: 1000 more people in (net) annual change
- Non-Citizen Move-in: 800
- Number of Homeless people: 300
You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it features diverse communities and access to employment appealing to families
Perk #1: West-Valley-City Demographic Mix & Lifestyle
- The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 31%
- Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 65%
- Largest Local Ethnic Group is White
- The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
- The median income is (and growing) $59,000
- Income Required to Live Comfortably in West-Valley-City is $52,000
- Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $-7000 in negative cash flow
This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?
Perk #2: Housing & West-Valley-City’s Cost of Living
- Cost of Living Index: 90 (100 is the US average)
- Annual Property Tax Per House: $2,077
- Property Tax %: 1.1%
- Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,200
- Rent for an average house: $2,000
- Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: West Valley City
- Top 5 Growing Areas: West-Valley-City, Magna, Salt-Lake-City, Taylorsville, and probably could include Kearns
- Avg. Age of Homes in West-Valley-City: 28 years
- The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 1.5%
If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.
Perk #3: Job Market & West-Valley-City’s Economy
- 3 Industries gaining traction in West-Valley-City are Retail, Manufacturing, and Education
- West-Valley-City Job Scene: moderate job market primarily in retail and healthcare
- The General Tech Scene: developing tech community focused on logistics and local industries , ,
- West-Valley-City Resident’s pay $1,200 in City Tax alone!
- Local Sales Tax in West-Valley-City: 7.25%
- No. of Independent Businesses: 60 (excluding chains and corporates)
- Number of Local Branch Banks: 3
Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.
Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in West-Valley-City
- Monthly Transportation Costs: $90 on average per person
- Freeway Access: I-215 provides local connectivity for West Valley City
- Commute Time: 24 minutes (public & private)
- Main Evening Traffic Area: traffic jams on 3500 South
- Transportation Score: 47 out of 100 described as Some Transit
- No. of Vehicles Registered in West-Valley-City: 92,000
- Cars registered per Person: 0.7
- No. of Car Washes: 6 in and around the city
- DMV Website for West-Valley-City: dmv.utah.gov
- The Bike-Friendly Score: 62 of 100
- Local Airport: Salt Lake City International
Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.
Perk #5: West-Valley-City’s Weather & Natural Factors
- The Most Common Natural Disaster is Earthquakes
- General Weather in West-Valley-City is best described as cold winters warm summers with dry conditions
- Winter Weather in West-Valley-City i’d describe as cold with snow
- Spring Weather in West-Valley-City can be described as mild and rainy
- Summer’s in West-Valley-City are mostly warm and dry
- Fall ( the nicest time) in West-Valley-City is usually cool and sunny
- How many days in a row over 90°F: 8 days in summer
- Days in a row in West-Valley-City below Freezing: 30
- Average Annual Rainfall: 13 inches
- Summer Air Quality is usually moderate air quality affected by local emissions
- West-Valley-City Winter Air mixed air quality influenced by urbanization
Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.
Perk #6: West-Valley-City Education & Schools
- The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
- Number of Colleges and Universities in West-Valley-City 4
- While the number of trade schools inside West-Valley-Citys’s city limits are 1
- Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the West Valley City Public Library
If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.
Perk #7: Healthcare & West-Valley-City Stats
- Typical EMS Response Time: 9 minutes
- Registered Full-Time West-Valley-City only Doctors is about 30
- Local Hospitals here is 3
- Full-time West-Valley-City only Police Officers is about 240
- Crime Rate Index: 30/100
Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.
Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality
- West-Valley-City’s Monthly utility bill average is $90
- West-Valley-City’s Monthly Gym Membership: $40
- West-Valley-City’s Water Quality Score: 70
Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.
Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in West-Valley-City
- Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 5 annually
- The General Local City Vibe: diverse urban area with a focus on community engagement
- You might enjoy concerts at the Maverik Center
- Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), West-Valley-City has a casual nightlife with local bars and eateries for family-friendly gatherings and social activities
If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.
Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of West-Valley-City
- The Objective Restaurant Scene Includes diverse dining and fast food options
- The Number of Independent Restaurants are 30 scattered around West-Valley-City
- The Popular Sports Team is Local PickleBall Champs
- Top Level Political Climate in West-Valley-City can be described as diverse city with a mix of political opinions
- West-Valley-City’s Longer standing religious establishment is West Valley First United Methodist Church
Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.
Perk #11: West-Valley-City Parks & Green Spaces
- Did you know West-Valley-City has 20 Parks?
- Valley Fair Mall Park is West-Valley-City’s Green Space Center
- The local favorite Farmers Market is West Valley City Farmers Market normally open Wednesday 4pm-7pm
- Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, wildlife viewing, and cycling
Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.
Perk #12: West-Valley-City Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity
- The Pace of Life in West-Valley-City can be described as moderate urban pace with a focus on family living
- 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in West-Valley-City community activities hiking local trails picnicking
- The Cities people commute to from West-Valley-City are St-George 12 miles away Hurricane 15 miles away Cedar-City 44 miles away
Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.
8 Drawbacks about West-Valley-City or are they?
No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.
- Traffic/Commute Issues
Maybe you read: traffic jams on 3500 South. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts. - Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
West-Valley-City’s Earthquakes risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up. - Pricey Neighborhoods
If West Valley City is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby West-Valley-City are St-George 12 miles away Hurricane 15 miles away Cedar-City 44 miles away. - Crime Rate Concerns
With a 30 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this. - Harsh Climate Contrasts
West-Valley-City has 30 days in a row below freezing and 8 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it. - Limited Extra Funds
After general costs of living here in West-Valley-City people have an average (positive or negative) $-7000 in negative cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here. - Homelessness or Social Challenges
300 homeless people living in West-Valley-City. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions. - Cultural/Political Mismatch
The general diverse city with a mix of political opinions could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to West-Valley-City.
Retiree & Senior Life in West-Valley-City
- Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can may qualify for property tax exemptions based on income
- The most established Senior Citizen Community is The Alpine
- West Valley City Senior Center provides wellness workshops meal programs and social activities for seniors
If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.
Moving to West-Valley-City, Utah?
If West-Valley-City, Utah ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help
As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.
A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around West-Valley-City, Utah, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!