Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 12 of 22 categories
Provo
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
114,400
Simi Valley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $1313/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,402)
Homes cost $313k less ($391,500 vs $704,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $54,201/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,201 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Provo
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Median Home Value
$313k less
$391,500 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$54,201
$112,144 vs $57,943/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
38% lower
129.1 vs 206.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 95.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Provo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 12 of 22 categories. Provo wins 10 and Simi Valley wins 12. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $704,200 median home), income ($57,943 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Simi Valley, CA are about 568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.