Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Provo leads 15 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $812/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,901)
Homes cost $172k less ($391,500 vs $563,200)
38% less violent crime than Quincy
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $32,725/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $32,725 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
38% lower
206.6 vs 335.1 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$172k less
$391,500 vs $563,200
Provo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$32,725
$90,668 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Provo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 15 of 23 categories. Provo wins 15 and Quincy wins 8. 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 Provo to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $563,200 median home), income ($57,943 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Quincy, MA are about 2,095 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.