Moving to West Valley City, Utah

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NOAA, USGS, the Utah State Tax Commission, UTA, and West Valley City records. Prices move, so ask me for current numbers.

West Valley City is Utah’s second largest city. The Census counted about 137,500 people here in 2025, a little fewer than the 140,230 counted in 2020. The city covers about 35.8 square miles of land on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley. Most of it is built on.

Other cities touch it on most sides. Salt Lake City is across SR-201 to the north, along about 2100 South. The Jordan River is the east edge from 2100 South to about 4100 South. South of that, 2700 West is the line with Taylorsville. The south edge runs along about 4700 South, with Taylorsville and Kearns across it. One lobe of the city reaches down to about 6700 South between 5000 and 6900 West. The west edge is near 7200 West, with Magna across it. From east to west the city is about 9 miles wide.

The ground is flat for most of that width. City Hall sits at about 4,260 feet. Most of the city lies between about 4,240 and 4,350 feet. The ground is lowest by the Jordan River, at about 4,235 feet. Only the far southwest corner climbs toward the Oquirrh foothills, to about 5,180 feet. The weather topic tells what that means for the seasons.

Several of the valley’s big places are inside the city. The Maverik Center arena and the big outdoor amphitheatre are here, and the things to do topic covers both. Valley Fair Mall is in the shopping topic. The city has built a center around City Hall, Valley Fair and the last stop of the TRAX Green Line. The Fairbourne Station section tells about it. The public transportation topic has the trains and buses.

Mayor Karen Lang and City Manager Ifo Pili lead the city. West Valley City is rewriting its general plan. A community workshop was held on May 19, 2026. The plan covers housing, jobs, transportation, services and design. The first plan dates to 1984.

Four farm areas, one city

West Valley City was not built around one old town. It started as farmland. Joseph and Susanna Harker were the first pioneers to settle “over Jordan,” the old name for the land west of the river. That was in 1848. Other families followed in 1849, and some moved south to what became Taylorsville.

Water turned the farms into neighborhoods. The Granger-Hunter Improvement District formed in 1950 to bring running water and sewers. The city says a residential boom followed. A state historic report says the area grew as much in 1954 as it had in all the years since the pioneers arrived.

Then came the vote. An effort to form a city failed in 1978. On February 26, 1980, voters approved it by fewer than 100 votes. A recount cut the lead to about 70. West Valley City began on July 1, 1980, with about 72,500 people. The state history site says it was Utah’s third largest city that first year.

The first months were rough. A vote to undo the new city was on the ballot one week after the first officials were sworn in. The city says its first leaders paid for gas for the police cars themselves. City Hall was dedicated in 1990, and the city says it paid cash for it. By 1996 the city had more than 100,000 people.

Sources: the city’s history page, timeline and About page, Utah History To Go, and the Utah Historic Building Reports.

Two old houses on 3200 West are on the National Register of Historic Places: the Ira W. Bennion house, called Hawarden, and the William McLachlan farmhouse. Both are private homes. The old names still help when you read a listing. They are loose areas, not official lines, so ask which city and which school an edge address belongs to. The neighborhoods topic walks the areas from east to west.

Want the street level view of West Valley City? West Valley City on The Local has guides to the city. Comparing neighbors? Read the hubs for Taylorsville, West Jordan and Salt Lake City. I did the homework on West Valley City, and a partner agent I trust does the work on the ground.

West Valley City has four true seasons. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold, with steady snow from November through March. Spring and fall are mild. No weather station sits inside the city. These numbers are NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals at Salt Lake City International Airport. The station is about 6 miles north of City Hall and about 40 feet lower.

Month by month

These are the normal highs and lows for each month. Summer nights cool off a little. A normal July night drops to about 68°F.

• JanuaryHigh 39°F, low 24°F
• FebruaryHigh 45°F, low 29°F
• MarchHigh 55°F, low 36°F
• AprilHigh 62°F, low 42°F
• MayHigh 73°F, low 50°F
• JuneHigh 84°F, low 59°F
• JulyHigh 94°F, low 68°F
• AugustHigh 92°F, low 67°F
• SeptemberHigh 81°F, low 56°F
• OctoberHigh 66°F, low 44°F
• NovemberHigh 51°F, low 33°F
• DecemberHigh 39°F, low 25°F

Source: NOAA climate normals, 1991 to 2020, Salt Lake City International Airport station. Months are rounded to the nearest degree.

Rain and melted snow add up to about 15.5 inches a year. April is the wettest month, with about 2.2 inches. July is the driest, with about 0.5.

Frost dates matter if you garden. The last freeze usually comes around April 8, and the first one around October 31. That leaves about 204 frost-free days. About 21 days a year stay below freezing all day.

The far southwest corner of the city is much higher than the airport, up to about 5,180 feet. It runs a little cooler. No station measures how much, so I give no number.

The canyon mouths, with fall color in the canyons above them, are 16 to 21 minutes away by car. For the day to day side, see West Valley City on The Local.

West Valley City gets about 52 inches of snow in a normal year at the nearest station, the Salt Lake City airport. That is more than Lehi and less than Logan or Tooele. Most of it falls from November through March.

January is the snowiest month, with about 12.7 inches. December brings about 12.1 and February about 10.7. November adds about 7, March about 6, and April about 3. October and May get only a trace. No snow falls from June through September.

Snow cover is short on the low ground. At the airport, the ground holds an inch of snow or more on about 45 days a year.

The far southwest corner is higher and runs a little cooler than the airport. No station measures snow there, so I give no number. The canyons above the valley get far more. The skiing topic covers them.

Summers are hot and dry. A normal July afternoon reaches about 94°F at the airport station, which is the warmest of the four towns below. Nights fall to about 68°F, so the house cools off slowly. June is milder, with highs near 84°F. August is close to July, near 92°F.

Hot days are common. In a normal year, about 62 days reach 90°F or hotter. About 8 days reach 100°F or hotter.

Some summer afternoons bring thunderstorms that rarely last long. Summer is also a season for poor air. The air quality topic below has the numbers.

Spring brings gusty days to the Salt Lake Valley, and West Valley City has them too. No official wind figure exists for the city, so I give no gust number rather than a guess.

What I would do is learn how a home sits on its lot. A home on an open lot has less cover than one on an older street with mature trees. Look at the roof, the fences and the trees. Ask the neighbors what the last big wind did.

Yes, West Valley City gets inversions, like the rest of the Salt Lake Valley. An inversion is when cold air gets trapped in a valley under a lid of warmer air. On calm winter days, haze builds in that trapped air. A storm usually clears it out. Summer ozone brings poor air days too.

Winter haze

The air quality index starts at 0. A reading of 50 or less is good. Above 50 is moderate, and above 100 is unhealthy for sensitive groups. This table counts December through February days over 50 in Salt Lake County.

Source: EPA AirData, daily air quality index for Salt Lake County. The county figure uses the worst monitor of the day. It is not a West Valley City reading.

Summer ozone

Ozone is a gas that forms on hot, sunny days. In 2025, Salt Lake County had 15 days that were unhealthy for sensitive groups and 1 that was unhealthy for everyone. Fourteen of those 16 poor days were ozone days, between May and early September.

Dust from the Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake has shrunk, and that leaves bare lake bed that can blow. The state says dust storms off the lake reach the whole Wasatch Front on some spring and summer days. The state gives no West Valley City count.

What the EPA says

Salt Lake County is in the Northern Wasatch Front area for the 2015 ozone standard. EPA lists the area as Serious, so it does not yet meet that standard. For fine particles, called PM2.5, the Salt Lake City area met the federal standard in 2025. That took effect on December 19, 2025, and the area has a plan to keep it that way.

The winter haze, and the toxics study

The state air division ran the West Valley Toxics Study. It measured air toxics in the city in winter and again in summer. An EPA grant of about $355,000 paid for the monitoring. The study is finished, and its final report from 2017 is posted on the Utah DEQ page. If you are looking near the industrial west side, read the report for yourself.

Here is what I would do. Check the air each day on the state’s air quality site, the way you check the weather. If air matters to you, visit during a gray winter stretch and a hot summer afternoon before you buy. Car emissions tests are part of the same story. The first 90 days topic covers the test.

Sources: EPA Green Book, the EPA news release on PM2.5, EPA AirData for 2024 to 2026, and the Utah DEQ page on lake dust.

Housing is the big cost in West Valley City. The glance box at the top of this page shows the latest typical home value, from the U.S. Census. By that same Census count, the typical value here runs below West Jordan's and Taylorsville's and above Kearns's and Magna's. I do not quote a cost-of-living index for the city, because none exists for West Valley City alone.

Most other costs follow public rules. The cards below show where each one comes from. The taxes topic has the details, and the utilities topic covers who sends each bill.

The 2026 bills, one by one

The water and sewer rates started January 1, 2026. The garbage fee includes bulky waste pickup and the neighborhood clean-up dumpsters. These are separate bills, so I do not add them into one total. Rates change, so check each group's page before you budget.

Want a side-by-side with a nearby city? Taylorsville and West Jordan are next door. Ask me and I will run the numbers for the ones you are weighing.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2020 to 2024), the Utah State Tax Commission, and the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles. Bill amounts come from West Valley City and the Granger-Hunter Improvement District. Costs change, so ask me for current numbers.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Three taxes matter most when you move here: sales tax, state income tax, and property tax. The city raised its property tax rate for 2026, so that gets its own block below.

The city and school taxes went up in 2026

On August 11, 2026, West Valley City held a Truth in Taxation hearing. The city council then adopted a higher property tax rate by a vote of 6 to 1. That hearing is a public meeting Utah requires before a city collects more than its certified rate. The certified rate is the rate that brings in the same money as last year.

The city said the extra money pays for nine new firefighters and higher pay for police and other staff. It adds about $1.9 million a year in all. For an average home, that is about $32 a year.

Granite School District also raised its rate. Its board adopted the new rate on August 18, 2026. Salt Lake County raised its rate in the 2026 county budget too. So a bill for 2026 can differ from the one the last owner paid.

What else is on the bill

West Valley City runs its own police and fire departments. Those costs sit in the city levy, and no Unified Fire or Unified Police levy appears on a West Valley City bill. Some nearby cities pay for those services through separate districts instead. So compare the whole bill, not one line.

Every bill carries Salt Lake County, the county library, Granite School District, the city, and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. Then the bill adds a water district by area. Most of the city pays Jordan Valley Water and Granger-Hunter. The northwest adds Magna Water District, and the southwest adds Kearns Improvement District. Some west areas add a recreation and parks levy. The tax area code on a notice tells you which ones apply to a home.

The primary home exemption

Utah gives a tax break to the home you live in. A primary home is taxed on 55% of its market value. Look at your tax notice for the primary home line to see that the break is applied.

Starting January 1, 2027, state law makes an application for the break mandatory when ownership changes. If you buy after that date, put it on your first-month list. The first 90 days topic has the other early steps.

Sources: the Utah State Tax Commission, the West Valley City council minutes (August 11, 2026), Granite School District, the Salt Lake County Assessor, and S.B. 60 (2026). Questions about your own bill go to the county assessor.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

The glance box at the top of this page shows the latest typical home value for West Valley City, from the U.S. Census. That number is what owners think their homes are worth, averaged over five years. It is not a sale price. So price any home against recent sales of homes like it nearby.

West Valley City is mostly single-family houses. By the Census count, about 66% of homes are houses on their own lots. About 8% are townhomes, and about 7% are in buildings of two to four units. Another 12% are in buildings of five or more units, and 7% are mobile homes. The median home has 6.2 rooms.

About 72% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. Almost none are counted as seasonal, so this is a year-round city. County parcel records show that most houses sit on lots of about a fifth of an acre. About 2% sit on half an acre or more. About 84% of those houses have one floor, because ramblers and split-entries are common. A basement is not counted as a floor.

Know the age of the home before you trust the average

The median home was built in 1985. In general, older homes sit in the east and center, and newer ones toward the west. A third of the homes went up from 1990 to 2009, so the city has many homes with younger parts. Judge every home by its age, its lot, and its street.

What you will see on a tour

Ramblers and split-entry houses are common in the older streets. Newer subdivisions sit more toward the west. Townhomes and condos stand on rebuilt sites, such as the land along Redwood Road. The new construction topic tells that story.

The west-edge lots sit closest to the business parks along 5600 West and out toward the Mountain View Corridor. Drive the street, listen for highway noise, and look at what sits next door. Confirm the water provider before you make an offer.

Ask me how fast homes like the one you want are selling right now. A partner agent I trust in Salt Lake County can walk through recent sales with you. Prices shift through the year, so a number from last season can mislead.

Shop by price

Shop by kind of home

Sources: U.S. Census ACS 2020 to 2024 and Salt Lake County parcel records (March 2026). Prices shift through the year, so ask me for the latest West Valley City numbers.

West Valley City runs from the Jordan River on the east to about 7200 West, around 9 miles. Most of the ground sits between about 4,240 and 4,350 feet. Only the far southwest corner climbs, up to about 5,180 feet. The city publishes no neighborhood map. Its own pages name just four founding areas: Granger, Hunter, Redwood, and Chesterfield. So these seven areas follow those names, the ground, and the roads, from east to west.

• ChesterfieldThe northeast, near the riverAbout 4,235 to 4,250 feetThe name sits around River Trail Station and Derby Street, near the Jordan River. The city draws no line around it. This area has the highest liquefaction class and some flood-mapped ground by the river. The home checks topic explains both.
• Redwood and the river edgeRedwood Road and the Jordan RiverAbout 4,235 to 4,255 feetThe river is the east edge from 2100 South to about 4100 South. The parkway trail runs beside it. Decker Lake and its TRAX station are here, along with Redwood Junction Station, the Maverik Center, and the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. The old Redwood Drive-In land, at about 3688 South Redwood Road, is being rebuilt with homes. The new construction topic has it.
• GrangerThe north-center and the city centerAbout 4,250 to 4,300 feetCity Hall, Valley Fair Mall, Fairbourne Station, and West Valley Central Station are here. So are Granger High, at 3690 South 3600 West, and Holy Cross Hospital West Valley, at 3460 South 4155 West. A fault of the West Valley fault zone runs along 2700 West.
• Lake Park, Stonebridge and HighburyThe north-center and northwestAbout 4,245 to 4,260 feetLake Park Boulevard and Stonebridge Golf Club (4415 Links Drive) are here. So is Highbury Parkway, near 5200 West. The ground is flat. Liquefaction is high near Stonebridge. The golf topic has the course.
• HunterThe west and center-westAbout 4,260 to 4,540 feetCentennial Park and Hunter High (4200 South 5600 West) are here. So is Hunter Hollow Drive, near 4400 South 5600 West. The ground rises as you go west. Liquefaction is moderate along 5600 West at 3500 South, and low near Hunter High.
• The southwest foothillsSouth of 4700 South, west of 5000 WestAbout 4,700 to 5,180 feetThis is the highest ground in the city. The Ridge Golf Club, the amphitheatre, Lodestone Park, and Bacchus Highway (SR-111) are here. Liquefaction is low. Show nights bring traffic to these streets, and the home checks topic has that too.
• The industrial and business west5600 to 7200 WestBusiness parks and plantsWarehouses, plants, and business parks run out to the Mountain View Corridor. The city names Lake Park Corporate Center, West Ridge Commerce Park, Decker Lake Business District, and Metro Business Park. The northwest corner shares ZIP code 84044 with Magna. The economy topic covers the employers.

The city line threads between its neighbors, and two ZIP codes are shared: 84118 with Kearns and 84044 with Magna. South of 4100 South, 2700 West is the Taylorsville line. So a partner agent I trust checks the city and the school boundary for any listing near an edge.

Fairbourne Station and the city center

The city has built a center around West Valley Central Station and City Hall, which sits next to Valley Fair Mall. West Valley Central is the south end of the Green Line and the start of the MVX bus. City Hall is at 3600 South Constitution Boulevard. Construction on Fairbourne Station began in 2011, and it opened in 2012.

The Fairbourne Station Promenade and Plaza is at 2905 West Lehman Avenue. It has water fountains, an interactive water course, a lawn, restrooms, and vendor stalls. The city describes the district as housing, office space, and street-front retail. The homes built there so far are rentals, including the 225-unit Residences at Fairbourne Station.

Want the story on a certain block? Tell me what you are after. I will get it through the partner agent on the ground. My West Valley City guides on The Local cover the venues, the river, and more.

Locations come from city and county records and map tests. Elevations come from the U.S. Geological Survey. A home's school depends on its exact address, so check with Granite School District.

Yes, but not much. West Valley City has little open land left, so most new building happens on rebuilt sites. Online home sites often blur the map. A search for new homes in West Valley City may fold in Magna, Kearns, and West Jordan. So ask which city each address is in.

• Townhomes and condosSolari Townhomes and Solari Condos (EDGEhomes)Redwood Road, about 3700 to 3800 SouthThis is the old Redwood Drive-In and swap meet land. The city council rezoned it for housing, 5 to 2, in September 2024. The news report then said the plan was for over 300 homes of mixed kinds. The land had been a vendor market for over 70 years. The builder lists townhomes with a clubhouse, a gym, a pool, pickleball courts, and a tot lot. It lists condos with three bedrooms and a one-car garage. It shows no single-family homes. In October 2026 the builder listed no quick move-in homes, though homes may be in progress.
• RentalsThe Residences at Fairbourne StationCity center, next to City HallThe homes built at Fairbourne Station so far are rentals, not for-sale homes. The city center section has the details.

The city is also rewriting its general plan. A visioning workshop was held on May 19, 2026. Housing and neighborhoods is one of the five topics, along with jobs, transportation, services, and design. A plan on an agenda is not a home for sale yet. Plans change, so check what is actually for sale.

The homework list for a new home

1. Inside West Valley City or next door? Ask which city the address is in, because portals can blur it.
2. Single-family or townhome? Know the kind of home before you compare prices.
3. Who provides the water? Most of the city uses Granger-Hunter, but edge areas have other districts.
4. The school boundary Check the exact address with Granite School District.
5. The builder's track record Look at homes the builder finished earlier.

If you want a brand-new house on a larger plan, you can also look in a nearby city. Builders often cover the buyer agent fee, and your agent puts that in writing before you sign. Buying new works differently from buying a resale home, so read how it works before you tour. Be careful with portal counts. A site that claims dozens of new-home communities in the city is counting the whole region.

Sources: EDGEhomes, Utah Public Radio (September 18, 2024), the West Valley City timeline and general plan page. A project on a page is not a home for sale. Plans change, so ask me for the latest status.

Every town has its own list of things to check. None of these should scare you off. They are the questions I would ask about any home in West Valley City. A map or a test can answer each one for a single address, so check them one home at a time.

Ask me about any of these on a home you like, and I will tell you what the record shows. Your agent on the ground can set up the radon test and the inspection. The things to do topic covers the venues, and the utilities topic covers the water and sewer district.

More on inspections

This is general information, not legal, engineering, or insurance advice. Sources: the Utah Geological Survey, the Utah Geospatial Resource Center, FEMA, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Have a licensed inspector look at any home before you buy.

Sort the financing before the search. The best first step is to get pre-approved. That means a lender checks your finances and tells you how much you can borrow. It shows what you can spend, and it makes your offer stronger.

Budget around the whole cost of owning a home, not the price alone. Get the full tax bill for a home from the Salt Lake County treasurer, because the city rate is only one line. Condition matters to lenders, too. On an older rambler, an appraiser looks closely at age and condition. An appraisal is a professional estimate of a home's value, and the lender uses it. A documented remodel and an as-is house can follow different paths.

One loan type does not apply here. USDA loans are for rural homes, and the USDA map shows every West Valley City point tested as ineligible. Conventional, FHA, and VA loans are the ones to look at. Utah Housing Corporation also runs statewide programs, so ask about current ones.

Condo and townhome projects have their own rules, and those can change whether a unit qualifies for a loan. A lender can fold the tax levies into your plan.

How my dual role works. I am licensed in both real estate and lending. On any one purchase I take one role. Every role is disclosed, and you are always free to choose your own agent and your own lender. In West Valley City, a partner agent I trust does the work on the ground. The full explanation is on How I Work. This section is general information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.

West Valley City has a large job base. The Census counts about 58,000 jobs inside the city. About 29 in 100 working residents work inside it, and the rest work elsewhere or from home.

The average trip to work is about 23 minutes (Census, 2020 to 2024). About 70 in 100 workers drive alone, and 15 in 100 carpool. About 12 in 100 work from home, and about 2 in 100 ride transit.

Jobs inside the city

The city publishes its own list of top employers for fiscal year 2025, based on business licenses. In order, the first seven are Discover Financial Services, Northrop Grumman, Hexcel, USANA Health Sciences, Pride Transport, Walmart, and Wheeler Machinery.

USANA has its headquarters at 3838 West Parkway Boulevard. Discover’s center is at 2500 Lake Park Boulevard, and Amazon has a site called DUT1 at 3701 Atlas Way.

The city names four business areas. They are Lake Park Corporate Center, the 2100 South frontage road industrial area, the 5600 West shopping area, and Fairbourne Station. It also says the city has over 7 million square feet of industrial space. It lists Amazon, Hexcel, CR England, Cotopaxi, and Petzl among the companies investing here.

Carbon fiber, rocket motors and isotopes

Hexcel says its West Valley City site is its largest high-performance carbon fiber factory in the world. Carbon fiber is a strong, light material used in aircraft. About 1,000 people work at the site. In March 2023, Hexcel opened a research center there. The building is 100,000 square feet.

Northrop Grumman is number two on the city’s list. Its Bacchus rocket-motor plant sits on the west edge near Magna and carries a Magna address.

Nusano makes radioisotopes, which are radioactive materials used in cancer tests and treatments and in industry. It opened a 190,000-square-foot plant in Lake Park on August 21, 2025. In June 2026, Nusano reported “Beam on Target,” which it called the first of three milestones on the way to production. The city calls Lake Park Corporate Center the second-largest corporate park in the state.

Jobs across the county

Salt Lake County as a whole had about 806,300 jobs in March 2026 (BLS). The average weekly wage was $1,666. If you work from home, my guide for remote workers in Utah covers what to check before you move.

Sources: Census ACS 2020 to 2024, the city’s fiscal year 2025 financial report and economic development site, Hexcel and Nusano news releases, and BLS (first quarter 2026). The employer order is the city’s own.

Yes. Holy Cross Hospital West Valley is at 3460 South 4155 West, about 6 minutes from City Hall. It has a 24-hour emergency room and 102 licensed beds. The state lists it as a Level III trauma center. The state rates trauma centers by level, and Level I is the most complete. CommonSpirit Health runs the hospital. It was long known as Pioneer Valley Hospital.

For walk-in care, ask your insurer which clinics are in your network. A second hospital campus is on the way, and three large hospitals sit within about 23 minutes.

On military orders? My military PCS guide covers VA loans and timing the move.

Sources: the hospital’s own page, the state hospital license list, the Utah trauma center list (May 2025), and the University of Utah. Drive times are map estimates. Check hours and phone numbers before you go.

Granite School District serves the whole city. Granite has 54,467 students across the valley (October 1, 2025). Its elementary schools teach kindergarten to grade 5, its junior highs teach grades 6 to 8, and its high schools teach grades 9 to 12.

Inside the city line there are 38 public schools. Granite runs 26 of them: two high schools, four junior highs, and 20 elementary schools. The other 12 are charter schools. A charter school is a public school that runs apart from the district, and you apply to it. About 24,700 students went to these 38 schools in the fall of 2025.

Granger High opened in 1958 and Hunter High in 1990. Most of the city goes to Granger or Hunter High. Some edge addresses can go to Cyprus High in Magna or Kearns High in Kearns instead.

Check by address

Granite made no boundary changes and closed no schools for 2026 to 2027. It has closed several small elementary schools in past years. So use the school lookup on the Granite district site to see which school serves an address, and do not guess from a listing. Granite also raised its tax rate for 2026, and the taxes topic has the line.

I do not rate schools, and I would be wary of anyone who says which one is best. The links below go to the district and to independent sites.

Student counts come from the Utah State Board of Education, October 1, 2025. School locations come from the state school map, checked against the city line. Boundaries come from Granite School District. Ratings come from independent third parties, not from me.

Not in the usual sense. Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) has a small site in the city, the West Valley Center at 3460 South 5600 West. It offers general education, English as a second language, and college-readiness classes. SLCC’s bigger Taylorsville Redwood Campus is next door, at 4600 South Redwood Road, about 7 minutes from City Hall. SLCC says it serves nearly 50,000 students across 8 campuses and online.

You can also get there without a car. The MVX bus starts at West Valley Central and stops at the SLCC campus. The public transportation topic tells how it works. The campus is in Taylorsville.

Times are map estimates from City Hall in normal traffic, not to the campus door. Rush hour changes all of them.

West Valley City sits among freeways and busy streets. Most trips here are by car. The average trip to work is about 23 minutes.

The highways and the main streets

SR-201, also called 2100 South, runs along the north edge of the city. I-215 crosses the east third from north to south and meets SR-201 at the north edge. Bangerter Highway (SR-154) runs through the west-center. In November 2025, UDOT finished the Bangerter interchange at 4700 South, and the city calls it the year’s big road project.

The Mountain View Corridor (SR-85) runs north and south on the west side. Through the city it is still the original divided highway, not a freeway. UDOT’s next freeway phase is farther south, between Herriman and West Jordan.

Three main streets carry the daily trips. 3500 South is SR-171 and runs east and west. Redwood Road is SR-68, and 5600 West is SR-172. Both run north and south. North-south trips tend to be easier than east-west ones, because the freeways, the big roads, and the rail line all run that way.

The canyon mouths are close. Big Cottonwood Canyon is about 16 minutes from City Hall, and Little Cottonwood Canyon is about 21.

From City Hall

• West Valley Central station~2 min
• Valley Fair Mall~4 min
• Maverik Center~5 min
• Holy Cross Hospital West Valley~6 min
• Cultural Celebration Center~6 min
• Centennial Park~11 min

I have no rush hour times for each road. Test your own commute at the hours you would drive it before you buy. If a home sits near I-215, SR-201, or a show venue, ask about road noise. The home checks topic covers it.

Road details come from UDOT (November 21, 2025), the state road map, and the city’s financial report. Drive times are map estimates in normal traffic.

Yes. Four TRAX Green Line stations are inside the city: West Valley Central, Decker Lake, Redwood Junction, and River Trail. TRAX is Utah’s light rail. The West Valley line opened in 2011, and West Valley Central is its southern end. The same station is where the MVX bus starts.

The Green Line

Green Line trains run through downtown Salt Lake City to the airport. They come about every 15 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays. The first train leaves West Valley Central at 5:00 a.m. The last one leaves at 10:30 p.m., or 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. The ride from West Valley Central to City Center downtown takes about 27 minutes, and to the airport about 49.

West Valley Central is about 2 minutes by car from City Hall, and Decker Lake Station is about 5. The Fairbourne Station section tells about the city center around the first one.

MVX, the bus that starts here

MVX is UTA route 50X, the Midvalley Express. It began service on April 12, 2026. It is bus rapid transit, which means a bus with its own lane and signals that favor it. The line runs 7 miles.

It links West Valley Central and Murray Central. Murray Central is on the TRAX Blue and Red lines and FrontRunner, the commuter train. FrontRunner does not run on Sunday. The bus runs along 4700 South through Taylorsville and stops at the SLCC campus.

Buses come about every 15 minutes most of the day on weekdays and Saturdays. They come every 30 minutes early, late, and on Sundays. The first weekday trip leaves West Valley Central at 3:54 a.m. and takes about 32 minutes to Murray Central. Later trips can differ.

UTA says MVX is zero fare through April 2029. Check rideuta.com before you build a car-free plan around it.

Sources: the city’s timeline, UTA’s April 2026 Green Line schedule, UTA’s MVX pages and fall 2026 schedule for route 50X, and Census ACS 2020 to 2024. Check rideuta.com before you ride.

Salt Lake City International (SLC) is the airport for the whole valley. It is about 8 miles from City Hall, about 15 minutes by car.

• Salt Lake City (SLC)~8 mi · ~15 min

You can also ride the TRAX Green Line from West Valley Central to the airport. The public transportation topic has the schedule lines.

These are drive times to the airport, not to the terminal door. Rush hour and storms change the run the most, so leave extra time.

Sources: map drive estimates from City Hall in normal traffic, and UTA.

West Valley City sits in the west-central Salt Lake Valley. The Jordan River runs along the east side, and the Oquirrh Mountains rise to the west. Downtown Salt Lake City is about 9 miles away.

Taylorsville

~3 mi · ~8 min

Kearns

~6 mi · ~10 min

Murray

~6 mi · ~11 min

South Salt Lake

~7 mi · ~11 min

West Jordan

~8 mi · ~13 min

Magna

~11 mi · ~15 min

Salt Lake City

~9 mi · ~15 min

Park City

~34 mi · ~41 min

Here are more drives people ask about, all from City Hall.

Nearby towns are close too. Midvale is about 12 minutes away, Millcreek 14, Cottonwood Heights 15, and Sandy and Holladay 16. Lehi is about 30, and Tooele is about 37.

These are map estimates in normal conditions, not official figures. Add time for snow and rush hour, and check your own route. Town times come from the site’s drive table.

Want any other pair of towns? Look up any Utah drive between 138 towns.

West Valley City bills garbage itself, and it runs its own police and fire departments. A district handles water and sewer. The table shows who to call. City Hall is at 3600 South Constitution Boulevard, and the phone is 801-966-3600.

Check each provider for fees and hours. Confirm each provider for the exact address. Call 811 before you dig.

The 2026 amounts for water, sewer, garbage, storm water, and street lights are in the cost of living topic. Rates change, so check each provider’s schedule. Area codes here are 801 and 385.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Most addresses in West Valley City have several internet choices. The main reason is the UTOPIA Fiber network. It is open access, which means the network is shared and several companies sell service over it.

The city’s fiber network

UTOPIA Fiber says it was founded by 11 Utah cities in 2004, and West Valley City is on its city list. UTOPIA finished the citywide build in 2022. In that year it said nearly every home could connect. UTOPIA also said residents could choose among 16 different providers.

The state broadband map backs this up. It shows 146 test points inside the city. The table shows how many points each company reports.

In plain words, fiber reaches every neighborhood. The 15 points with no fiber are all on the far west industrial edge and on open land. I list who reports service, not speeds or prices.

That is what the companies report, not a promise for a given house. Service can change from one street to the next. For cell service, look at each carrier’s own coverage map for the address.

Sources: the Utah Broadband Center provider data (edited October 1, 2026), tested at 146 points inside the city, and UTOPIA Fiber’s own pages and 2022 news report. Fixed wireless and satellite may also be reported.

Moving day is only the start. Here is the short list for your first 90 days in West Valley City, in a sensible order.

1. Turn on the utilitiesSign up with Granger-Hunter for water and sewer. You need a photo ID and the deed. Call the city at 801-963-3334 for garbage. Then set up Rocky Mountain Power and Enbridge Gas Utah. Do this before you move in.
2. Get your Utah driver licenseThe West Valley-Taylorsville Driver License office is next door, at 4315 South 2700 West, Suite 1600, in Taylorsville. It is open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The phone is 801-965-4437. Plan on an appointment, a written test, and maybe a driving test. The fee is $52 for ages 21 and up, and $39 for 20 and under.
3. Register your carUtah gives you 60 days after you make a permanent home here. The DMV is in the same building, Suite 1200. The phone is 801-297-7780. Pass the emissions test first. A car titled in Utah for the first time needs a quick VIN check, unless it is new from a Utah dealer.
4. Get an emissions testSalt Lake County requires one for most cars and light trucks. See the box below.
5. Register to voteDo it online at vote.utah.gov, or in person with ID.
6. Check the primary home tax breakIt can cut the tax on the home you live in. A primary home is taxed on 55% of its value. The taxes topic has the rule.
7. Test for radonRadon is a gas from the ground. Test any home you buy. The home checks topic has the numbers for the city’s ZIP codes.

The emissions test

Salt Lake County is one of five Utah counties that require an emissions test. Davis, Utah, Weber, and Cache are the others. A car less than six years old is tested every two years. An older car is tested every year. Electric cars are exempt. A passing test counts for 60 days, and you test no more than two months before your registration is due.

Stations set their own prices. The county also adds a $3.00 air pollution fee when you register a car. The county is changing its emissions rule, and the change is not final. Check the county page before you test.

Rules and office hours change. Check each office before you go.

Every big grocer is inside the city. Harmons and Macey’s sit on 3500 South. Costco is beside Valley Fair Mall, and Target, WinCo, and a Walmart are on 5600 West. The mall is the city’s main indoor shopping center.

Three shopping streets

3500 South is the main one. It runs from Valley Fair at 2700 West out to about 5000 West. Redwood Road, from 2400 to 3800 South, has Latin and Vietnamese markets. The third is 5600 West, from 2500 to 3400 South, with WinCo, Walmart, and Target. Small Asian, Latin, halal, and Polynesian markets sit along these streets too.

What West Valley City does not have

There is no Trader Joe’s and no Sprouts in the city. The nearest Sprouts is in Murray, and a Trader Joe’s is being built in West Jordan.

The ZIP code trap

A ZIP code does not tell you the city. ZIP 84119 covers the east side, and City Hall is in it. ZIP 84120 covers the center and north, and 84128 covers the west. ZIP 84118 is shared with Kearns, and a sliver of 84044 is shared with Magna. Costco’s own page reads “Salt Lake City, UT 84119,” yet the store is inside West Valley City. Check the city on the county map before you rely on a listing, or ask me.

Store lists change. These were checked against store pages, the mall directory, and store lists in October 2026. Smith’s, Walmart, and WinCo come from third-party store lists. Check that a shop is still open before you drive over.

West Valley City has 34 city parks, a river trail on the east side and two county parks with more room to roam. Most of it is flat and close. The big mountain trails are a drive away, and the ski topic below covers the canyons. These are the places I would check first.

From City Hall

• West Valley Central station~2 min
• Valley Fair Mall~4 min
• Maverik Center~5 min
• Holy Cross Hospital West Valley~6 min
• Cultural Celebration Center~6 min
• Centennial Park~11 min

Centennial Park and its campus

Centennial Park, at 5405 West 3100 South, is the city's regional park, at about 77 acres. It has 8 tennis courts, 8 basketball courts, 7 sports fields and 8 softball fields. It also has 2 pavilions and a jogging loop of about a mile and a quarter. It also has futsal courts and a radio-controlled crawler course. The city calls its skate park the largest in Utah, at 31,000 square feet. The Centennial Bike Park sits beside it, with a start hill, jump lines and pump tracks.

The Family Fitness Center is next door at 5415 West 3100 South. It opened in 1999 and covers 96,000 square feet. It has a lap pool, a leisure pool, a climbing wall and an indoor track. The city says its indoor water slide is the tallest in the state, at 32 feet. It is open Monday to Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Centennial Outdoor Pool closes for the season and comes back in spring. It is included with a Family Fitness Center membership.

Other city parks

City Park, at 4500 West 3500 South, has a sledding hill. Parkway Park, at 3405 West Parkway Boulevard, was rebuilt in 2026 as an inclusive play space. It has a Sky Tower with slides, a zipline, turf, murals and a bike pump track. West View Park has a challenge course. Grand Vistas, Rocky Ridge and Sunset Hollow have newer play gear, and the last two have pickleball. Most neighborhood parks have no restrooms.

Five parks take pavilion reservations through the city: Centennial, City, Hillsdale, Parkway and West View. Bounce houses are banned in city parks. The city says no park has water access. A 35th park, Newton Farm Park, is planned for 2027.

The Jordan River, Decker Lake and Lodestone

The Jordan River Parkway is a trail that follows the river for 45 miles through the county. About 3 miles of it are in West Valley City. Trailheads sit at 2320 South 1000 West and 1272 West 3300 South. Pioneer Crossing Park, a 25-acre county park, is at the second one. It has a boat dock and a fishing pier built for all abilities. The Redwood Trailhead Park has boat docks too.

Decker Lake, at 2800 South 2300 West, is a county property. A 1.3-mile path circles the lake and joins the Crosstowne Trail. There is a pavilion and a playground. Lodestone Regional Park, at 6252 West 6200 South, is a 60-acre county park that West Valley City shares with Kearns. It has a mining-themed playground, a Utah Jazz court and about 6 miles of mountain bike skills trail.

On the west side, the Mountain View Corridor trail starts at the Greater Southridge Trailhead, at 5706 South Woodview Drive. The Diamond Summit Trailhead is at 6482 South Mount Adams Drive. The Utah Olympic Oval, with public skating, is in Kearns, about 12 minutes away.

Sources: West Valley City Parks and Recreation, Salt Lake County Parks and the city's general plan. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall at 3600 South Constitution Boulevard. Hours, seasons and closures change, so check each site.

No national park is near West Valley City. The closest ones are a long day or an overnight stay away. These are drive times from City Hall in normal traffic.

Zion has more than one entrance, so use the drive tool to measure the one you plan to use. For a closer day out, Great Salt Lake State Park and Marina is about 24 minutes away. Antelope Island is about 53 minutes away. The island is open all year, and the fee is $15 a vehicle. The Cottonwood canyons are the closest mountain days, and the next topic covers them.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall, in normal traffic. Check each park's own site for hours, fees and closures.

The Cottonwood canyon mouths are 16 and 21 minutes from City Hall. The resorts are 35 to 41 minutes away. Snowbird and Alta sit up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Solitude and Brighton sit up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Park City is about 41 minutes east.

These times assume normal traffic and no storm. Canyon traffic and snow add time. Both Cottonwood roads dead-end at the resorts, and in a storm they can slow down or close. The Utah Department of Transportation posts the traction law, ski buses and live road status on its Cottonwood Canyons page. Resorts usually open in late November.

For a different kind of winter day, the Utah Olympic Oval is about 12 minutes away in Kearns. It offers public skating. The Maverik Center also hosts ice shows and figure skating, and the things to do topic covers it.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall, in normal traffic. They run a few minutes longer than from Taylorsville. Resorts post their own opening dates each fall. Check road conditions before you go.

West Valley City is home to two city-owned golf courses, with 45 holes between them. Both are open to the public.

The Ridge Golf Club

The Ridge is at 5055 South West Ridge Boulevard and has 18 holes. It opened in May 1991 as West Ridge Golf Club. The Mountain View Corridor took the land under five of its back nine holes. The state agreed to build a new course, and Gene Bates Design Group designed the new 18. It is open in 2026, and it is about 14 minutes from City Hall.

Stonebridge Golf Club

Stonebridge is at 4415 Links Drive and has 27 holes in three nines. They are called Creekside, Sunrise and Sagebrush. Golf course designer and U.S. Open champion Johnny Miller laid out the links-style course. Water comes into play on 20 of the 27 holes. It is about 9 minutes from City Hall.

Meadow Brook, a county course with 18 holes, is in Taylorsville. It is close too. Prices and tee times come from each course.

Course details come from each course's own site. Check each course for current prices, hours and conditions.

West Valley City's food sits on a few streets. 3500 South has the most, from Redwood Road west to about 5000 West. Redwood Road from 2400 to 3800 South has Latin and Vietnamese markets and cafes. 5600 West from 2500 to 3400 South has a cluster beside WinCo, Walmart and Target. Valley Fair Mall has a food court and a few chains, such as Olive Garden and In-N-Out.

Mexican and Latin American kitchens run deepest here, with Vietnamese and other Asian kitchens close behind. The six places below show the range. Each has a record you can check. The list is short on purpose. Groceries and stores are in the shopping topic.

Six places with a record you can check

• MexicanLa Casa del Tamal2843 S 5600 WTamales and plates. It is open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is closed Sunday.
• Nepalese and IndianNepali Chulo3376 S 5600 WNepalese and Indian dishes in the 5600 West cluster.
• ColombianDe Mi Abuelita1835 W 3600 SColombian food to pick up.
• BarbecueHog & Tradition2569 S 5600 WBarbecue in the 5600 West cluster. Check its site for the days it opens.
• Korean-ChineseHong Kong Banjum 04103513 Constitution BlvdKorean-Chinese noodles, beside Valley Fair.
• Cajun and VietnameseBucket O' Crawfish1980 W 3500 SA Cajun-style seafood boil with a Vietnamese twist. It has been open since 2010.

Other places have a record too. Fat Fish serves sushi and pho in the same building as Bucket O' Crawfish. Si Si Colombia serves arepas on Redwood Road. Jim's Family Restaurant is a diner on 3500 South. Red Maple serves Cantonese family dinners on 4700 South. Hours change and small places come and go, so call first.

Each place is listed as open on its own site. This is not a ranking, and no one paid to be listed.

Valley Fair Mall has a 15-screen Megaplex, a bowling and entertainment center and an arcade, and the shopping topic covers the rest. Two big venues are in the city, and each is told below. The Utah Cultural Celebration Center has its own section in the arts topic.

The Maverik Center

The Maverik Center is at 3200 South Decker Lake Drive, about 5 minutes from City Hall. It opened on September 22, 1997 as the E Center. It was renamed in 2010, when the city and the arena's manager sold the naming rights. It was the ice hockey venue of the 2002 Winter Olympics. A concert crowd is about 12,000, and the theater setup can be as small as about 3,700. The city owns it, and Centennial Management Group runs it.

The Utah Grizzlies played their last game there on April 12, 2026. That ended about 30 years of hockey in the building. The team moved to Trenton, New Jersey, as the Trenton Ironhawks. The Salt Lake City Stars, an NBA G League team, play home games there from late November. An indoor football team, the Utah Great 8's, played its first season there in 2026. The 2027 U.S. Figure Skating Championships are set for January 2027.

For the 2034 Winter Games, the current plan puts all figure skating and short track speed skating at the Maverik Center. Hockey would be downtown. TRAX stops at Decker Lake Station, right next to the arena. Lots on the grounds fill first come, first served.

The amphitheatre

The Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre is on the southwest side, about 14 minutes from City Hall. The box office and general parking are at 5150 South Upper Ridge Road. It opened on July 3, 2003 as the USANA Amphitheatre, and it was renamed in 2024. United Concerts built it, and Live Nation runs it. A sold-out show is about 20,000 people, by the venue's own words. It is the valley's big outdoor concert stage. The season runs from May through October. USANA is also one of the city's big employers, and the economy topic has it.

Bags must be clear plastic, no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches, or a small clutch. After shows, police let traffic out only. That means real traffic on show nights for the blocks near the venue. The home checks cover what to look for before you buy nearby.

Venues, seasons and show lists change. Check each one before you go. Details come from the venues' own sites and the city.

The Utah Cultural Celebration Center is the home base for the arts in West Valley City. The biggest stages are downtown, and the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center is next door in Taylorsville.

The Utah Cultural Celebration Center

The center is at 1355 West 3100 South, beside the Jordan River. It opened in July 2003, and the city owns it. It has four galleries: the Pilar Pobil Celebration Gallery and the Bridge, Plaza and Crescent galleries. Most of the art is for sale. The galleries are open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday and Saturday they are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking on site is free. UTA routes 35 and 217 stop nearby, and Redwood Junction on the Green Line is under a mile away.

An eight-ton basalt Olmec head stands on the grounds. It is a replica, a gift from the State of Veracruz, unveiled in May 2004. The center runs Dia de los Muertos, usually in late October, and a plein air art show of work made along the Jordan River. It also runs school programs. Its 2026 rental calendar is fully booked.

Hale Centre Theatre was in West Valley City from 1998. It moved to Sandy in 2017, so you will not find it here. For big stages, downtown Salt Lake City is about 15 minutes away.

Hours, shows and exhibits change. Check the center's site before you go.

WestFest is the big event, and it runs four days in mid June, usually. The city and its venues host something most months. Dates move each year, so the months below say "usually".

WestFest

WestFest marks the city's founding. It is held at Centennial Park. It has a carnival, a parade from City Park, a Fun Run, a talent showcase, food and fireworks. The city describes it as a celebration of the cultures in the city. In 2026 it ran June 17 to 20.

The year in West Valley City

• JanuaryThe U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Maverik Center, in January 2027.
• February to MarchSalt Lake City Stars games, which run from November to March.
• AprilSpringFest, the free Earth Day festival at the Cultural Celebration Center. Easter events at the Family Fitness Center.
• MayThe amphitheatre season starts and runs through October.
• JuneWestFest, four days at Centennial Park. The farmers market starts on Thursday evenings.
• JulyFamily Fun Week at Centennial Park. Movies in the Park on select Thursdays.
• August to SeptemberThe farmers market and amphitheatre shows continue.
• OctoberDia de los Muertos at the Cultural Celebration Center. Nightmare Alley and the Pumpkin Float at the Family Fitness Center.
• NovemberA pickleball event and a Holiday Marketplace at the Family Fitness Center. Stars games begin.
• DecemberHoliday events at the Family Fitness Center.

The West Valley City Farmers Market meets on Thursday evenings at Centennial Park. It usually runs from late June to early October. S.P.A.R.K. offers free summer park activities for ages 5 to 14. Check the city's calendar for dates.

These are the usual months, taken from the city's 2026 calendar. Dates move each year, so check the city calendar before you plan a trip.

West Valley City sits in the west of the Salt Lake Valley. Salt Lake City lies to the northeast, and Taylorsville to the south and southeast. Kearns is to the south and Magna to the west. Each town below has a guide on this site. Times are from City Hall.

Day trips

Snowbird is about 35 minutes east, and the canyons are covered in the ski topic. Great Salt Lake State Park is about 24 minutes away, and Antelope Island about 53. The national parks are a long day or more, and the national parks topic has the times. City lines change districts and utilities, and the partner agent checks the city and the school for any address near an edge.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall at 3600 South Constitution Boulevard, in normal traffic. They are close, not exact.