Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $55,236 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Provo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $894/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,983)
Homes cost $264k less ($391,500 vs $655,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $55,236/yr
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.2%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$55,236
$113,179 vs $57,943/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.4% unemployment
Provo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
6% lower
206.6 vs 219.1 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$264k less
$391,500 vs $655,700
Provo
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Provo wins 10. 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 Alexandria to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $391,500 median home), income ($113,179 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Provo, UT are about 1,833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.