Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($293,000 vs $423,500)
30% less violent crime than Sparks
Rent averages $312/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,526)
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $21,573/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $21,573 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Providence
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
30% lower
276.7 vs 394.4 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$131k less
$293,000 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$21,573
$82,938 vs $61,365/yr
Sparks
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Providence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories. Providence wins 11 and Sparks wins 12. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $423,500 median home), income ($61,365 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Sparks, NV are about 2,501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.