Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 12 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ 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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($202,900 vs $391,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Provo, UT
Pros
87% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $146/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,235)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$189k less
$202,900 vs $391,500
Provo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
87% lower
206.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Baltimore 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 Baltimore to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $391,500 median home), income ($58,349 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Provo, UT are about 1,849 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.