Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($66,700 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $100/mo less ($989 vs $1,089)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Provo by $20,182/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 10.3 pts lower (4.4%)
88% less violent crime than Detroit
Households earn $20,182 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Median Home Value
$325k less
$66,700 vs $391,500
Provo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Median Income
$20,182
$57,943 vs $37,761/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
88% lower
206.6 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
10.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 14.7% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Detroit wins 9 and Provo wins 14. 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 Detroit to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $391,500 median home), income ($37,761 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Provo, UT are about 1,482 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.