Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
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.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($208,900 vs $391,500)
Households earn $7,313 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Provo, UT
Pros
87% less violent crime than Kansas City
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Median income trails Kansas City by $7,313/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Income
$7,313
$65,256 vs $57,943/yr
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$183k less
$208,900 vs $391,500
Provo
Violent Crime
87% lower
206.6 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Provo
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Provo wins 13. 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 Kansas City to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $391,500 median home), income ($65,256 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Provo, UT are about 911 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.