Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Norman leads 14 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
9
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($224,900 vs $391,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Households earn $4,906 more per year on average
Rent averages $85/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,089)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
21% less violent crime than Norman
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Median income trails Norman by $4,906/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Norman
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Income
$4,906
$62,849 vs $57,943/yr
Norman
Median Home Value
$167k less
$224,900 vs $391,500
Provo
Violent Crime
21% lower
206.6 vs 260.2 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 31.0 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Norman is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 14 of 23 categories. Norman wins 14 and Provo wins 9. 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 Norman to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $391,500 median home), income ($62,849 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Provo, UT are about 853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.