Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Torrance
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Homes cost $571k less ($391,500 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1043/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,132)
34% less violent crime than Torrance
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $51,611/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,611 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
34% lower
206.6 vs 311.2 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$571k less
$391,500 vs $962,300
Provo
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$51,611
$109,554 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Torrance, 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 | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Provo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories. Provo wins 10 and Torrance wins 13. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $962,300 median home), income ($57,943 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Torrance, CA are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.