Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
67% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,420 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($162,000 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $172/mo less ($917 vs $1,089)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Provo by $6,420/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Median Income
$6,420
$57,943 vs $51,523/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
67% lower
206.6 vs 620.4 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$230k less
$162,000 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 20.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 23 categories. Provo wins 13 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $162,000 median home), income ($57,943 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Roanoke, VA are about 1,710 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.