Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Provo leads 12 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
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 St. Paul
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 24°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Median income trails St. Paul by $11,976/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($264,900 vs $391,500)
Households earn $11,976 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Provo
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
67% lower
206.6 vs 617.7 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$11,976
$69,919 vs $57,943/yr
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$127k less
$264,900 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 163⚠ 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) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Provo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Provo wins 12 and St. Paul wins 11. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($57,943 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and St. Paul, MN are about 995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.