Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($226,200 vs $391,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 41°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.4%)
Median income trails Provo by $3,848/yr
Provo, UT
Pros
73% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $3,848 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$165k less
$226,200 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$3,848
$57,943 vs $54,095/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
73% lower
206.6 vs 769.9 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 18.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 28.3 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 12 and Provo wins 11. 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 Columbia to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $391,500 median home), income ($54,095 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Provo, UT are about 1,737 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.