Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 12 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
12
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°F
Households earn $3,538 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
35% less violent crime than Eugene
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $180/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,269)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Eugene by $3,538/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$3,538
$61,481 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
35% lower
206.6 vs 317.9 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$15k less
$391,500 vs $406,000
Provo
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Eugene 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 Eugene to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $391,500 median home), income ($61,481 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Provo, UT are about 643 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.