Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Provo leads 15 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $805/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,894)
72% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Homes cost $124k less ($391,500 vs $515,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $28,169/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,169 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
72% lower
206.6 vs 739.8 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$124k less
$391,500 vs $515,500
Provo
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$28,169
$86,112 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Provo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 15 of 23 categories. Provo wins 15 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $515,500 median home), income ($57,943 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Vallejo, CA are about 587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.