Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 12 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Wilmington
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
57% less violent crime than Wilmington
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,213)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($318,600 vs $391,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
57% lower
206.6 vs 482.8 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 4.9% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Median Income
$965
$58,908 vs $57,943/yr
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$73k less
$318,600 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Provo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 12 of 23 categories. Provo wins 11 and Wilmington wins 12. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $318,600 median home), income ($57,943 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Wilmington, NC are about 1,891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.