West Valley City is a city located in Salt Lake County Utah. West Valley City has a 2024 population of 132,635. West Valley City is currently declining at a rate of -1.36% annually and its population has decreased by -5.24% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 139,973 in 2020.
The average household income in West Valley City is $94,663 with a poverty rate of 10.83%. The median age in West Valley City is 30.2 years: 30 years for males, and 30.5 years for females.
Located in Salt Lake County, a suburb of Salt Lake City, West Valley City is the second-largest city in Utah. West Valley City is located about 11 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The city was incorporated in 1980 from a large and quickly growing unincorporated area, which had variously been known as Chesterfield, Granger, Hunter, and Redwood.
According to new census estimates, demographers say West Valley City is now a minority-majority city (https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/09/13/census-west-valley-city/) in 2019 with minorities accounting for 51.4% of the population compared to around 48.6% white. About one-third of West Valley City's population is Hispanic or Latino.
At the time of West Valley City’s incorporation in 1980, the population of the city stood at just over 72,000. The city has seen consistent and steady growth over the years that have followed, growing on average by around 1 or 2% each decade. The largest increase in growth came during the 1990s, with an additional 22,000 people having come to the city between 1990 and 2000.
Between the incorporation of West Valley City in 1980 and the latest census estimates in 2017, it's estimated that the city has seen a rise of an additional 63,792 people, an increase of marginally more than 88%. In 2015, the city saw a growth of only 692 people, and 2016 saw a decline of almost as many. It's not known whether this decline is expected to continue and become a trend.
Prior to the first European settlers to the area, the earliest known residents of the western Salt Lake Valley were Ute and Shoshoni tribes of Native American Indians. European Latter-day Saints arrived and settled in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
The area would go on to be comprised of four separate communities – Chesterfield, Granger, Hunter, and Redwood. Welsh Latter-day Saints settled in the Granger area in 1849, and by 1930 Granger and its surrounding area had grown to be home to around 1,000 inhabitants. It was not until 1876 that Hunter was settled. Irrigation was developed 5 years later, and the area became known for its growth and cultivation of fruit trees.
The communities of Chesterfield, Granger, Hunter, and Redwood saw rapid growth in population in the 1970s, and the four unincorporated areas came together in 1980 to form West Valley City.
The city unveiled plans in 2011 for a vast, 10-year investment plan into its infrastructure, creating a downtown area comprising approximately 40 acres at a cost of $500 million.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of West Valley City was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 72,025 | 51.87% |
| Other race | 34,694 | 24.98% |
| Two or more races | 13,629 | 9.81% |
| Asian | 7,518 | 5.41% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 5,792 | 4.17% |
| Black or African American | 3,463 | 2.49% |
| Native American | 1,747 | 1.26% |
White
Other race
Two or more races
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Black or African American
Native American
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 38,838 | 3.57 | 71.1 | 28.9 |
| Married | 22,071 | 4.18 | 82.8 | 17.2 |
| Non Family | 8,198 | 1.49 | 53.1 | 46.9 |
| Female | 5,601 | 3.95 | 56.7 | 43.3 |
| Male | 2,968 | 4.03 | 60.7 | 39.3 |
3.9
Average Family Size
3.57
Average Household Size
71.1%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 7,719 | 9.57% |
| Associates Degree | 7,237 | 8.97% |
| Bachelors Degree | 9,739 | 12.08% |
| Graduate Degree | 3,028 | 3.75% |
| High School Graduate | 28,314 | 35.11% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 5,801 | 7.19% |
| Some College | 18,808 | 23.32% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 41,237 | 38,643 | 7,920 |
| Hispanic | 27,134 | 18,068 | 2,710 |
| Other Race | 16,488 | 10,349 | 1,550 |
| 2+ Races | 6,199 | 4,852 | 829 |
| Asian | 5,395 | 4,162 | 1,293 |
| Islander | 3,071 | 2,902 | 440 |
| Black | 1,550 | 1,350 | 77 |
| Native American | 1,046 | 745 | 139 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 94.5%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 23.97%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $51,856 | $58,919 | $47,032 |
| Graduate Degree | $64,936 | $63,167 | $69,875 |
| High School Graduate | $38,809 | $47,105 | $31,045 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $35,183 | $42,454 | $28,328 |
| Overall | $42,208 | $49,014 | $35,764 |
| Some College | $45,083 | $49,935 | $40,330 |
$42,208
Average Earnings
$49,014
Average Male
$35,764
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
58.94% of West Valley City residents speak only English, while 41.06% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 31.63% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 56,001 | 8,431 | 15.06% |
| Other | 33,455 | 4,867 | 14.55% |
| White | 59,393 | 3,993 | 6.72% |
| Multiple | 13,414 | 1,698 | 12.66% |
| Islander | 5,789 | 766 | 13.23% |
| Black | 3,463 | 707 | 20.42% |
| Asian | 7,502 | 449 | 5.99% |
| Native | 1,744 | 248 | 14.22% |
10.83%
Overall Poverty Rate
10.52%
Male Poverty Rate
11.15%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in West Valley City is Black, with 20.42% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in West Valley City is Asian, with 5.99% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.02%. Among those working part-time, it was 12.27%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 18.31%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 13.52% |
| High School | 8.42% |
| Some College | 7.36% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 5.5% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Male Unemployed | 24.74% |
| Female Unemployed | 18.14% |
| Female Employed | 5.36% |
| Male Employed | 5.26% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $88,750 | $100,484 |
| Households | $81,719 | $94,663 |
| Married Families | $97,428 | $111,498 |
| Non Families | $47,633 | $57,281 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
48.7%
Overall Marriage Rate
50.1%
Male Marriage Rate
47.3%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
3,946
Number of Veterans
3,637
Male Veterans
309
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 1,473 |
| First Gulf War | 967 |
| Second Gulf War | 819 |
| Korea | 123 |
| World War II | 27 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 65 to 74 | 1,034 |
| 55 to 64 | 917 |
| 75+ | 874 |
| 35 to 54 | 663 |
| 18 to 34 | 458 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 2,970 | 5.58% |
| Hispanic | 463 | 1.35% |
| 2+ Races | 239 | 2.83% |
| Asian | 198 | 3.17% |
| Black | 181 | 9.66% |
| Islander | 148 | 4.22% |
| Other Race | 136 | 0.65% |
| Native American | 74 | 5.39% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
7.49%
Veteran Poverty Rate
29.36%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
72.2%
Labor Force Participation
69.1%
Employment Rate
4%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
56.59%
Born in West Valley City
77.96%
Native Born
22.04%
Foreign Born
14.01%
Non Citizen
8.02%
Naturalized
77.96% of West Valley City residents were born in the United States, with 56.59% having been born in Utah. 14.01% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 123,464 | -1,834 | -1.46% |
| 2028 | 125,298 | -1,834 | -1.44% |
| 2027 | 127,132 | -1,835 | -1.42% |
| 2026 | 128,967 | -1,834 | -1.4% |
| 2025 | 130,801 | -1,834 | -1.38% |
| 2024 | 132,635 | -1,835 | -1.36% |
| 2023 | 134,470 | -2,125 | -1.56% |
| 2022 | 136,595 | -2,457 | -1.77% |
| 2021 | 139,052 | -921 | -0.66% |
| 2020 | 139,973 | 4,977 | 3.69% |
| 2019 | 134,996 | -1,002 | -0.74% |
| 2018 | 135,998 | -391 | -0.29% |
| 2017 | 136,389 | -421 | -0.31% |
| 2016 | 136,810 | 863 | 0.63% |
| 2015 | 135,947 | 1,481 | 1.1% |
| 2014 | 134,466 | 695 | 0.52% |
| 2013 | 133,771 | 1,292 | 0.98% |
| 2012 | 132,479 | 1,439 | 1.1% |
| 2011 | 131,040 | 1,386 | 1.07% |
| 2010 | 129,654 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 108,896 | 21,920 | 25.2% |
| 1990 | 86,976 | 14,598 | 20.17% |
| 1980 | 72,378 | -51,086 | -41.38% |