01 · the cities
Phoenix
Phoenix is sun, saguaros, and a valley so wide you can drive 45 minutes in a straight line and still be in greater Phoenix. The Sonoran Desert blooms wildly in spring, the monsoon storms in late summer are theatrical, and the hiking on Camelback or Piestewa Peak is a sunrise ritual. Pools and shaded patios are basically infrastructure, and the locals have the rhythm of a desert day dialed.
full dispatch→Provo
Provo is BYU and the Mormon culture's center of gravity, with a downtown that's quieter than most college towns (no Saturday football beer crowds here). The Wasatch Mountains rise right behind it, with Sundance ski resort 30 minutes up the canyon. Provo Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls are summer go-tos. The tech scene (Qualtrics, Domo) has reshaped the local economy. Beautiful in a calm, ordered way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,739/mo
$1,743/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$458k
$559k
$101k more than Phoenix
State income tax
State income tax
2.5%
4.7%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,386/mo
$6,203/mo
Phoenix has $183/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
181 days
171 days
10 fewer than Phoenix
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
133 days
12 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
44 days
days below 20°F per year
Phoenix has 121 more days above 95°F each year than Provo. Provo drops below 20°F on 44 more days per year than Phoenix.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
66 / 100
81 / 100
15.0 pts ahead of Phoenix
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
91 routes
91 routes
Metro size
Metro size
5.1M metro
733k metro
Phoenix has 199.0x more events per month than Provo.
the verdict
5
Phoenix
categories won
2
Provo
categories won
Phoenix wins on money and weather. Provo has the edge on lifestyle.
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