Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Provo leads 11 of 21 categories
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
114,400
Worcester
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,312)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Median income trails Worcester by $5,068/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Worcester, MA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Provo
Homes cost $86k less ($305,600 vs $391,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
Households earn $5,068 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Provo
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$5,068
$63,011 vs $57,943/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
92% lower
16.5 vs 206.6 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$86k less
$305,600 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Provo leads 11 of 21 categories. Provo wins 11 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($57,943 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Worcester, MA are about 2,055 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.