West Valley City was a large farming community in the mid-1800s, and today it’s residential, filled with homes, schools, parks and churches on suburban streets. With a population of 134,000, West Valley City is the second-largest municipality in Utah, and it’s located 10 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. “What draws people to West Valley is the affordability of homes specifically; It’s a lot more reasonable than other surrounding places,” Michael Wolters, a Realtor with Keller Williams Salt Lake City, who’s been selling homes for more than two decades in Salt Lake. West Valley City attracts young families with its traditional suburban neighborhoods and highly-ranked public school system. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Christian churches are dispersed throughout the city, as are entertainment venues like the Maverik Center, where the Utah Grizzlies hockey team plays.
The city is home to Hexcel, an aerospace corporation, and the company’s largest carbon fiber plant. Other major employers include Usana Health Sciences Inc. and Discover Financial Services. In 2023, the city added 950 new jobs. Two major construction plans are currently underway: The 4700 S Road Reconstruction Plan will fix aging pavement and reduce traffic, and another plan will upgrade a major flood storage building. “Some of the infrastructure that has been updated is making the area more desirable,” Wolters says.
A woman poses for a picture in front of the Maverick Center in Redwood.
The Utah and Salt Lake Canal Trail runs through Hunter.
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Late 1900s ranch-style homes
The city has a wide selection of single-family homes and townhouses. The median home price is $450,000, slightly higher than the national average of $420,000, and the median townhouse price is about $430,000. Many homes were built in the late 1900s with brick or vinyl exteriors. New construction is happening in the city, including new traditional homes—especially in the Hunter and Granger neighborhoods. Homes have either closed garages or carports and small but well-maintained front lawns. Neighborhoods have wide sidewalks, and some end in cul-de-sacs.
New construction is happening in the city, especially in the Hunter and Granger neighborhoods.
The median home price is $450,000 & the median townhouse price is about $430,000
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Well-regarded public schools in the Granite School District
Granite School District serves city children and earns a B from Niche. The site also ranks it No.2 out of 56 for Utah's most diverse school districts. Children can attend A-minus-rated Eastwood Elementary, which has fun runs and family nights. Skyline High School receives an A and ranks No.2 for best high school in Utah by U.S. News & World Report. Children’s Christian School is a local private school that teaches preschoolers through sixth grade, while Ensign Learning Center teaches second through sixth grade. There are no K-12 private schools in the city. Salt Lake Community College sits right outside the city and serves about 50,000 students at eight campuses across the state.
Academy Park Elementary School is part of Granite School District.
Hunter High School’s earns a B from Niche as part of Granite School District.
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Salt Lake Valley views at Glenn Weaver Memorial Park
Centennial Park is the largest green space in the city, at 77 acres. It includes two pavilions that can accommodate more than 200 people each, multi-purpose sports fields, a mile-long trail and playgrounds. There’s also a BMX park and skatepark. Glenn Weaver Memorial Park, located in the city's southwestern corner, has a pavilion, playground and a grassy hill with views of the Salt Lake Valley. The city also has smaller green spaces with playgrounds and picnic tables like Hunter Ridge Park and Grand Vistas Park, and the West Valley City Family Fitness Center sits next to Centennial Park, offering a daycare, climbing wall and a hot tub. The public can visit Stonebridge Golf Club, which has three 9-hole courses, or The Ridge Golf Club, which has an 18-hole course. With the mountains so close by, people can easily go hiking and skiing. People visit Cottonwood Canyon, about 50 miles away, for hiking and ATV riding. Ski resorts, including Brighton, Alta and Snowbird, are also nearby.
Youth play rugby at Centennial Park in Hunter.
An aerial view of the recently remodeled BMX track at Centennial Park.
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Dinner with friends at Pho 777
West Valley City is culturally diverse, and its restaurant offerings reflect that. Pho 777 is a Vietnamese mom-and-pop spot, while LoLo Hawaiian Barbecue is a local chain that sells dishes like macaroni salad and Katsu chicken. People can visit Sushi Monster at the Valley Fair Mall; the mall opened in 1970 and has stores like Hobby Lobby and Ulta Beauty, a movie theatre and a bowling alley.
Redwood has Lucky where residents can buy fresh meat and groceries at great prices.
La Fondita is an excellent choice for authentic food from Mexico City.
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The Utah Cultural Celebration Center, Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
The Utah Cultural Celebration Center hosts annual events like the Vietnamese New Year's celebration. Centennial Park is a hub for many annual community events like an Easter egg hunt, Cinco De Mayo festival and WestFest, an annual celebration of the city’s establishment every June that includes a carnival, fun run and fireworks. Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre, located in the city’s southwestern corner, can accommodate more than 20,000 people and hosts weekly concerts. Nearby Maverick Center hosts Utah Jazz basketball games, and soccer lovers head to America First Field, 12 miles south, to see the Real Salt Lake team play.
Utah Cultural Celebration Center in Redwood hosts an art exposition.
The entrance at Utah Cultural Celebration Center has an interesting concrete finish.
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Hop on Interstate 215 or Utah State Route 158
Interstate 215, Utah State Route 154 and the Mountain View Corridor, also called State Route 85, all run through West Valley City. People use those highways to travel north or south, or use the Utah Transit Authority’s bus or TRAX light rail system. In West Valley City, commuters can use TRAX to reach the Salt Lake City International Airport, 8 miles away. Crime Grade gives the city a C-plus rating, meaning it’s safer than 51% of U.S. cities. Between 2022 and 2023, violent crimes slightly increased while property crimes decreased. CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital—Jordan Valley West is a 24-hour medical clinic with 100 beds and more than 250 caregivers. In May 2024, it received an A rating from the Leapfrog Group, an organization dedicated to improving healthcare safety.
The weather report for West Valley City
West Valley City has a semi-arid, dry climate and experiences snowy winters and hot summers. Because the city sits at an elevation of 4,000 feet, pollution can get trapped in the atmosphere, causing air quality issues. The city has a moderate risk of wildfires, but it’s higher in the southwestern corner near the Oquirrh Mountains.
On average, homes in West Valley City, UT sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in West Valley City, UT over the last 12 months is $451,500, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
