Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
114,400
Surprise
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $733/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $29,813/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $29,813 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Provo
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 41°F
Homes cost $39k less ($352,600 vs $391,500)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$29,813
$87,756 vs $57,943/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
47% lower
109.1 vs 206.6 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$39k less
$352,600 vs $391,500
Surprise
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Provo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories. Provo wins 6 and Surprise wins 17. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($57,943 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Surprise, AZ are about 456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.