Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
14
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.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($293,000 vs $391,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Households earn $3,422 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
25% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,214)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Providence by $3,422/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Median Income
$3,422
$61,365 vs $57,943/yr
Providence
Median Home Value
$99k less
$293,000 vs $391,500
Provo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
25% lower
206.6 vs 276.7 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 32.3 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Providence wins 9 and Provo wins 14. 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 Providence to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $391,500 median home), income ($61,365 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Provo, UT are about 2,080 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.