Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 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
West Valley City
Utah
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
56% less violent crime than West Valley City
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,360)
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 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $23,776/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $23,776 more per year on average
Homes cost $58k less ($333,600 vs $391,500)
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
56% lower
206.6 vs 469.5 per 100k
West Valley City
Median Income
$23,776
$81,719 vs $57,943/yr
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$58k less
$333,600 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 30.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 9.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Provo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 15 of 23 categories. Provo wins 15 and West Valley City 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 West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $333,600 median home), income ($57,943 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and West Valley City, UT are about 36 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.