Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 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
Suffolk
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
44% less violent crime than Suffolk
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,376)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $29,815/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $29,815 more per year on average
Homes cost $77k less ($314,400 vs $391,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
44% lower
206.6 vs 371.0 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Median Income
$29,815
$87,758 vs $57,943/yr
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$77k less
$314,400 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Provo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Provo wins 14 and Suffolk 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($57,943 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Suffolk, VA are about 1,897 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.