Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 16 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($312,300 vs $391,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Provo by $11,483/yr
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Provo, UT
Pros
64% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Households earn $11,483 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Home Value
$79k less
$312,300 vs $391,500
Provo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Median Income
$11,483
$57,943 vs $46,460/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
64% lower
206.6 vs 581.2 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 16 of 23 categories. Newark wins 7 and Provo wins 16. 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 Newark to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $391,500 median home), income ($46,460 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Provo, UT are about 1,954 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.