Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
61% less violent crime than South Gate
Homes cost $187k less ($391,500 vs $578,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $311/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,400)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails South Gate by $9,245/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
South Gate, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,245 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
61% lower
206.6 vs 525.6 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$187k less
$391,500 vs $578,900
Provo
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Income
$9,245
$67,188 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Provo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Provo wins 14 and South Gate wins 9. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $578,900 median home), income ($57,943 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and South Gate, CA are about 565 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.