Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Plano leads 15 of 22 categories
Plano
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $47,736 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Provo
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Provo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $610/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,699)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Homes cost $21k less ($391,500 vs $412,500)
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $47,736/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Median Income
$47,736
$105,679 vs $57,943/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
27% lower
151.6 vs 206.6 per 100k
Provo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Median Home Value
$21k less
$391,500 vs $412,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 57 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 54 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Plano leads 15 of 22 categories. Plano wins 15 and Provo wins 7. 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 Plano to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $391,500 median home), income ($105,679 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Provo, UT are about 962 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.