Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 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
Sparks
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
48% less violent crime than Sparks
Rent averages $437/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $24,995/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $24,995 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.4%)
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
48% lower
206.6 vs 394.4 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$32k less
$391,500 vs $423,500
Provo
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 92.1°F
Sparks
Median Income
$24,995
$82,938 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ 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 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Provo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Provo wins 14 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $423,500 median home), income ($57,943 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Sparks, NV are about 430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.