Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High
Population
204,572 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
12
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.
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($168,400 vs $391,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 41°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.4%)
Median income trails Provo by $3,382/yr
Provo, UT
Pros
66% less violent crime than Columbus
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,382 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Columbus
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$223k less
$168,400 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$3,382
$57,943 vs $54,561/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
66% lower
206.6 vs 603.8 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.3% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $391,500 median home), income ($54,561 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Provo, UT are about 1,575 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.