Is Provo cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Provo is $1,460 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 30% cheaper. Median household income is $57,943 in Provo compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Provo or Denver?

Provo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 137 in Denver — 47% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Provo or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Provo and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Provo, UT vs Denver, CO

Provo, UT versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,460 a month in Provo and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $57,943 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Provo takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Denver leads by 48% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Provo can feel further apart than Provo and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Provo and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Provo report Full Denver report

Provo, UT

Rent: $1,460/mo
Median income: $57,943
Crime index: 72
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

30% cheaper

Provo rent is 30% cheaper than Denver

Provo

Winner

$1,460/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,460 a month in Provo versus $2,089 in Denver, so Provo is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $629/month back in your pocket — $7,548/year. Over five years that's $37,740 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Provo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

48% higher

Denver's median income is 48% higher than Provo

Provo

$57,943

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $57,943 in Provo, so typical pay runs 48% higher in Denver — about $27,910 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Provo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

47% lower crime

Provo's crime index is 47% lower than Denver

Provo

Winner

72 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Provo's crime index is 72 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in Provo. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Provo is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Provo and Denver are about even on school scores.

Provo

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Provo, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

8% more comfortable

Denver weather is 8% more comfortable than Provo

Provo

84°F typical

Denver

Winner

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 8% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Provo and 82°F in Denver. Provo reads as hot, long summers; Denver reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Provo's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Provo

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Provo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,460 a month. Choose Provo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Provo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Denver (72 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Provo report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 48% higher ($85,853), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 82°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Provo vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Denver is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Provo pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Provo offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Provo vs Denver FAQ

Is Provo cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Provo is $1,460 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 30% cheaper. Median household income is $57,943 in Provo compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Provo or Denver?: Provo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 137 in Denver — 47% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Provo or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Provo and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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