Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Fresno leads 13 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($321,800 vs $458,600)
15% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $9,356/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,356 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Violent Crime
15% lower
735.5 vs 864.2 per 100k
Fresno
Median Home Value
$137k less
$321,800 vs $458,600
Fresno
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 91.4°F
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$9,356
$72,357 vs $63,001/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fresno leads 13 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 13 and Salt Lake City wins 10. 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 Fresno to Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $458,600 median home), income ($63,001 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 505 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.