Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 15 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ 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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,276 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Provo, UT
Pros
Homes cost $601k less ($391,500 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $913/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,002)
28% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.4%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $23,276/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$23,276
$81,219 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
28% lower
206.6 vs 287.2 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$601k less
$391,500 vs $992,000
Provo
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 15 of 23 categories. Glendale 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 Glendale to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $391,500 median home), income ($81,219 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Provo, UT are about 554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.