Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Albuquerque leads 14 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($246,000 vs $391,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 41°F
Rent averages $75/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,089)
Households earn $3,560 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
83% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Albuquerque by $3,560/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$3,560
$61,503 vs $57,943/yr
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$146k less
$246,000 vs $391,500
Provo
Violent Crime
83% lower
206.6 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 14 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 14 and Provo wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $391,500 median home), income ($61,503 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Provo, UT are about 448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.