Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $913/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,002)
Homes cost $231k less ($391,500 vs $622,900)
35% less violent crime than Vista
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $30,772/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,772 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
35% lower
206.6 vs 316.4 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$231k less
$391,500 vs $622,900
Provo
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$30,772
$88,715 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 20.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Provo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 23 categories. Provo wins 13 and Vista wins 10. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $622,900 median home), income ($57,943 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Vista, CA are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.