Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 15 of 23 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,785 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 $1,464/mo
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
84% less violent crime than Compton
Rent averages $375/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,464)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $98k less ($391,500 vs $489,400)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $11,785/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$11,785
$69,728 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
84% lower
206.6 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$98k less
$391,500 vs $489,400
Provo
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton'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. Compton 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 Compton to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $391,500 median home), income ($69,728 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Provo, UT are about 569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.