Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
13
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,875 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 41°F
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
Homes cost $590k less ($391,500 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1011/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,100)
57% less violent crime than Pasadena
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $39,875/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$39,875
$97,818 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
57% lower
206.6 vs 480.4 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$590k less
$391,500 vs $981,600
Provo
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena'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 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena 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 Pasadena to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $391,500 median home), income ($97,818 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Provo, UT are about 551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.