Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
68% less violent crime than Redding
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $189/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,278)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Cons
Median income trails Redding by $9,380/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Redding, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,380 more per year on average
Homes cost $49k less ($343,000 vs $391,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 41°F
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
68% lower
206.6 vs 647.8 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Median Income
$9,380
$67,323 vs $57,943/yr
Redding
Median Home Value
$49k less
$343,000 vs $391,500
Redding
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 95.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Provo wins 11 and Redding wins 11. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $343,000 median home), income ($57,943 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Redding, CA are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.