Ogden vs Provo
Compare Ogden, UT and Provo, UT on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,254/mo in Ogden and $1,325/mo in Provo, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,350/mo and $1,253/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (233 vs 237 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 88°F and 91°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Ogden; if walkable daily life matters more, Ogden screens stronger on the walkability proxy (17 vs 11). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Ogden leads 64 to 60 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Both cities are close on the daily life screen.
Provo leads 57 to 50 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Ogden is roughly $85,000 in Provo using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Ogden | Provo | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,254/mo | $1,325/mo | Ogden |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,350/mo | $1,253/mo | Provo |
| Median home value | $385,000 | $441,000 | Ogden |
| State income tax | 4.5% | 4.5% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 23.8 min | Provo |
| Safety score | 54/100 | 54/100 | Tie |
| School score | 6/10 | 8/10 | Provo |
| Walkability estimate | 17/100 | 11/100 | Ogden |
| Outdoor score | 10/10 | 10/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 127.0 | 147.1 | Provo |
| Mountain distance | 7 mi | 2 mi | Provo |
| Coast distance | 552 mi | 547 mi | Provo |
What stands out
Ogden stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 2 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 6 miles
Ogden tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
Provo stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 2 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 12 miles
Provo tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
Common questions
Is Ogden cheaper than Provo?
On public benchmarks Ogden is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,254/mo in Ogden vs $1,325/mo in Provo; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,350/mo vs $1,253/mo; state income tax is 4.5% vs 4.5%.
Is Ogden or Provo safer?
Ogden screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 54/100 for Ogden and 54/100 for Provo (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Ogden or Provo?
School screens show 6/10 for Ogden vs 8/10 for Provo, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Ogden and Provo?
Ogden: summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 17°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Provo: 91°F / 17°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match