Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 15 of 23 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Provo
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,102 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $726/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,815)
Homes cost $225k less ($391,500 vs $616,000)
51% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $45,102/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$45,102
$103,045 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
51% lower
206.6 vs 420.0 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$225k less
$391,500 vs $616,000
Provo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
18.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson wins 8 and Provo wins 15. 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 Carson to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $391,500 median home), income ($103,045 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Provo, UT are about 573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.