Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Provo
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($101,500 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $280/mo less ($809 vs $1,089)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Cons
Median income trails Provo by $14,808/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Provo, UT
Pros
45% less violent crime than Erie
Households earn $14,808 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 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
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$290k less
$101,500 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$14,808
$57,943 vs $43,135/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
45% lower
206.6 vs 375.6 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 18.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Erie is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie 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 Erie to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $391,500 median home), income ($43,135 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Provo, UT are about 1,638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.