Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 15 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
Provo
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Households earn $11,494 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Provo
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.4%)
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Provo, UT
Pros
50% less violent crime than Gresham
Rent averages $363/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,452)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Gresham by $11,494/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Income
$11,494
$69,437 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
50% lower
206.6 vs 410.2 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$20k less
$391,500 vs $411,700
Provo
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 15 of 23 categories. Gresham 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 Gresham to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $391,500 median home), income ($69,437 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Provo, UT are about 655 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.