What it's like to live in West Haven
West Haven is a small city in Utah with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. West Haven deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Hot summers
How West Haven compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Haven
Based on West Haven's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,404
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $68,080 a year
- 33% of West Haven renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$112,860
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $56,430
- Homes cost 5.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 20% above US
$1,702/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,702 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $564,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $564,300 · 33% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Weber County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Weber County (county-wide)
Safety
111 violent crimes per 100k, whole jurisdiction
West Haven doesn't have its own police department, so there's no crime rate for it alone. The figures shown are for the Weber County Sheriff's Office jurisdiction as a whole, which runs below the national average for violent crime and covers many communities. Individual neighborhoods can differ a lot from that overall rate.
Property crime 506/100k · Policed by Weber County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate) · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 15% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Golden Spike National Historical Park (37 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
West Haven's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,702/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near West Haven
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