Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
12
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Households earn $20,603 more per year on average
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
32% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Rent averages $383/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,472)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 32°F
Homes cost $25k less ($391,500 vs $416,500)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $20,603/yr
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.7%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$20,603
$78,546 vs $57,943/yr
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.4% unemployment
Provo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
32% lower
206.6 vs 302.5 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$25k less
$391,500 vs $416,500
Provo
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 27.4 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 11 and Provo wins 12. 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 Ann Arbor to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $391,500 median home), income ($78,546 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Provo, UT are about 1,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.