Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066 ✓ 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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $48,071 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $617/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,706)
Homes cost $162k less ($391,500 vs $553,000)
28% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $48,071/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$48,071
$106,014 vs $57,943/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Provo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
28% lower
206.6 vs 285.6 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$162k less
$391,500 vs $553,000
Provo
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada 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 Arvada to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $391,500 median home), income ($106,014 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Provo, UT are about 345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.