Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Riverside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $622/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,711)
65% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $94k less ($391,500 vs $485,500)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $25,505/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,505 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
65% lower
206.6 vs 589.7 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$94k less
$391,500 vs $485,500
Provo
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$25,505
$83,448 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Provo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 23 categories. Provo wins 13 and Riverside wins 10. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $485,500 median home), income ($57,943 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Riverside, CA are about 538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.