Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
10
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $14,149 more per year on average
Homes cost $51k less ($340,200 vs $391,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
74% less violent crime than Phoenix
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,322)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $14,149/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Median Income
$14,149
$72,092 vs $57,943/yr
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$51k less
$340,200 vs $391,500
Phoenix
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 95.2°F
Provo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
74% lower
206.6 vs 799.6 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 95.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 13 and Provo wins 10. 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 Phoenix to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $391,500 median home), income ($72,092 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Provo, UT are about 462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.