Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 13 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Raleigh
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
58% less violent crime than Raleigh
Rent averages $282/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,371)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $20,688/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $20,688 more per year on average
Homes cost $45k less ($347,000 vs $391,500)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
58% lower
206.6 vs 488.8 per 100k
Provo
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Median Income
$20,688
$78,631 vs $57,943/yr
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$45k less
$347,000 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Provo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 13 of 23 categories. Provo wins 10 and Raleigh wins 13. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $347,000 median home), income ($57,943 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Raleigh, NC are about 1,811 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.