Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
14
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.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $20,742 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
78% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,651)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $20,742/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$20,742
$78,685 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
78% lower
206.6 vs 947.8 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$18k less
$391,500 vs $409,700
Provo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora'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, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 9 and Provo wins 14. 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 Aurora to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $391,500 median home), income ($78,685 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Provo, UT are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.