Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Provo leads 17 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $13,499 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($111,200 vs $391,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Provo by $13,499/yr
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Median Income
$13,499
$57,943 vs $44,444/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
80% lower
206.6 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.2% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Median Home Value
$280k less
$111,200 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Provo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 17 of 23 categories. Provo wins 17 and Trenton wins 6. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $111,200 median home), income ($57,943 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Trenton, NJ are about 1,931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.