Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 15 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $33k less ($358,400 vs $391,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Provo, UT
Pros
49% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Rent averages $301/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,390)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$1,996
$59,939 vs $57,943/yr
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$33k less
$358,400 vs $391,500
Provo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
49% lower
206.6 vs 408.7 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 15 of 23 categories. Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $391,500 median home), income ($59,939 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Provo, UT are about 1,954 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.