Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Provo leads 16 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $1052/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $169k less ($391,500 vs $560,400)
30% less violent crime than Vacaville
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $48,821/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,821 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Provo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
30% lower
206.6 vs 293.2 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$169k less
$391,500 vs $560,400
Provo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Median Income
$48,821
$106,764 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Provo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 16 of 23 categories. Provo wins 16 and Vacaville wins 7. 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $560,400 median home), income ($57,943 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Vacaville, CA are about 567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.