Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
10
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.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($171,800 vs $391,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Provo, UT
Pros
52% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$2,244
$60,187 vs $57,943/yr
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$220k less
$171,800 vs $391,500
Provo
Violent Crime
52% lower
206.6 vs 427.2 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $391,500 median home), income ($60,187 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Provo, UT are about 1,659 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.